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Recognizing the history of the drug diethylstilbestrol and the harm it has caused, and for other purposes.
Recognizing the history of the drug diethylstilbestrol and the harm it has caused, and for other purposes.
Summary
This resolution expresses congressional support for designating April 20-26, 2025 as "DES Awareness Week" to recognize the history and harm caused by diethylstilbestrol (DES), a drug prescribed to millions of pregnant women from the 1940s until 1971 to prevent miscarriage. The resolution acknowledges that in-utero DES exposure was linked to rare cancers in female children and later associated with fertility complications and other health issues. It supports restored funding for the DES Follow-Up Study and urges the Food and Drug Administration to issue a formal apology to families affected by the drug.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
Actions (2)
- Apr 21, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. · house
- Apr 21, 2025 Submitted in House
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 21, 2025
Mr. McGovern submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the history of the drug diethylstilbestrol and the harm it has caused, and for other purposes.
Whereas diethylstilbestrol (“DES”) is a toxic and carcinogenic estrogen and endocrine disrupter; Whereas the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved DES in the early 1940s; Whereas DES was widely prescribed, with the intention of preventing miscarriage, to between five and ten million pregnant women in the United States until 1971; Whereas DES exposure in utero was linked to the development of rare cancers of the vagina and cervix called clear cell adenocarcinoma in female children, commonly referred to as “DES Daughters”; Whereas the FDA banned the use of DES during pregnancy in the United States in 1971; Whereas DES exposure in utero has since been linked to increased fertility and pregnancy complications and other physical and mental health challenges; Whereas the FDA has acknowledged the harm caused by DES but has yet to apologize to the families of those impacted by its prolonged use; and Whereas April 20 through 26, 2025, would be an appropriate week to designate as “DES Awareness Week”: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) expresses support for the designation of “DES Awareness Week”;
(2) recognizes the history of the drug diethylstilbestrol and the harm it has caused;
(3) supports the restoration of funding for the DES Follow- Up Study; and
(4) urges the Food and Drug Administration to issue a formal apology to families impacted by diethylstilbestrol. <all>
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