Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)
Congresswoman Stevens’ legislation builds on her leadership holding RFK Jr. accountable and advancing science-based public health policy
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL) introduced the Thyroid Disease CARE Act of 2025, landmark legislation aimed at advancing research, awareness, and care for thyroid disease—an often-overlooked health issue that disproportionately affects women.
The bill is the latest step in Stevens’ ongoing effort to defend science-based healthcare policy, building on her leadership in moving to impeach RFK Jr. for cutting lifesaving medical research, spreading dangerous public health misinformation, and undermining trust in science.
“As RFK Jr. attacks medical science and undermines public trust, Congress must do the opposite,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “I’m standing up for science by advancing real solutions for Michigan women with thyroid disease—investing in research, awareness, and care so families can get the answers and care they deserve.”
The thyroid gland regulates essential bodily functions. Disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can disrupt nearly every system in the body. One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime, with women facing ten times the risk of men. Despite these numbers, thyroid disease remains under-researched, particularly in understanding why women are so heavily affected.
By strengthening research and education, the legislation aims to improve outcomes, reduce disparities, and ensure patients receive earlier, more effective care.
The legislation has been endorsed by leading medical and patient advocacy organizations, including the Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, American Thyroid Association, and Bryn Silverman, Producer of Expression of Illness: A Louisvillian’s Thyroid Cancer Experience.
“As a physician who treats thyroid disorders and sees their impact on patients’ lives, I understand the need for greater insight into their causes and for advances in our tools to diagnose and treat them,” said Dr. Paul Ladenson, American Thyroid Association. “More funding for thyroid research is long overdue. That’s why I was thrilled to join Congresswoman Haley Stevens in support of the Thyroid Disease CARE Act. It’s time for more Federal resources to be directed to understanding and managing a set of diseases that affect so many Americans, especially women.”
“As a thyroid cancer survivor, I know very deeply the urgent need for research into thyroid disease,” said Bryn Silverman. “So often our experiences as people living with thyroid disease are misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all; our quality of life is undervalued and our symptoms are overlooked. The Thyroid Disease CARE Act has the potential to change thousands of people’s lives and expand the vocabulary we as patients have to make informed decisions about our healthcare.”
The Thyroid Disease CARE Act would:
- Authorize funding for thyroid disease research through the Department of Health and Human Services, opening new opportunities for Michigan-based researchers and medical institutions.
- Identify critical gaps in diagnosis and treatment.
- Launch a national public awareness campaign focused on populations most at risk, including women.
- Expand access to evidence-based thyroid care for health care providers and health systems.
- Commission a national study on disparities in thyroid disease prevalence, detection, treatment, and outcomes.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
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