U.S. Senator John Boozman urged members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on March 20 to support his bipartisan bill aimed at increasing access to prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men.
The issue is significant because prostate cancer remains a leading cause of death among men in the United States, with certain groups such as African American men and those with a family history facing higher risks. Boozman said that removing financial barriers to preventive screenings could save lives and reduce healthcare costs.
During his remarks, Boozman described how prostate cancer has affected many American families, including his own. He highlighted the PSA Screening for Him Act, which he introduced with Senator Cory Booker. The legislation would require private health insurance plans to cover preventive prostate cancer screenings without cost-sharing requirements for high-risk men. “Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the U.S., with African American men as well as men with a family history being disproportionately affected,” Boozman said. He added, “When caught in the early stage, prostate cancer is almost 100 percent survivable. Unfortunately, the survival rate plummets to about 37 percent when discovered in later stage.” Boozman also emphasized that lowering barriers such as co-pays and deductibles can encourage more high-risk individuals to get screened.
The bill has received backing from organizations like the American Urological Association and ZERO Prostate Cancer. Boozman was recently recognized by ZERO Prostate Cancer as a 2026 Prostate Cancer Champion.
Boozman’s advocacy extends beyond healthcare; he supports Arkansas farmers, ranchers, veterans’ care, and economic policies that foster job growth according to his official website. He serves on several Senate committees including Appropriations; Environment and Public Works; Veterans’ Affairs; Rules and Administration; Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry according to his official website. Raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas according to his official website, Boozman graduated from Northside High School before earning an optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry according to his official website. He co-founded a family-owned eye care business in Northwest Arkansas according to his official website.
Boozman’s personal life includes raising three daughters with his wife Cathy and having four grandchildren according to his official website.
“It is vital for policy to keep pace with advances in medical screening technology, and this bipartisan bill is not about democrats or republicans — this is about all of us helping our neighbors,” Boozman said.
