PASS Coalition Congratulates Tom Price on His Confirmation as the Next Secretary of Health and Human Services
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Public Access to Sunscreens (PASS Coalition) offered congratulations to Dr. Tom Price on his early morning confirmation as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The PASS Coalition issued the following statement in response to Secretary Price’s confirmation:
“”As a Member of Congress, Rep. Price was a strong supporter of the bipartisan Sunscreen Innovation Act (SIA) enacted in 2014 as a response to increased rates of skin cancer. PASS looks forward to continuing to work with Secretary Price in his new role as HHS Secretary to ensure that the latest sunscreen ingredients get to market and in the hands of consumers as quickly as possible.””
The bipartisan Sunscreen Innovation Act was signed into law by President Obama on November 26, 2014. The law streamlined the approval process for new sunscreen ingredients to ensure that these ingredients receive a transparent review within a predictable timeframe. The intent of the Act was to ensure Americans gain access to the latest safe, effective and innovative sunscreen products to protect against the sun’s most harmful rays.
Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer — including melanoma — than the combined incidence of breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer. From 1975-2011, rates of melanoma in young men and women ages 20-39 years increased by 34% in men and by 84% in women.