Men's Health Caucus

MISSION

The Congressional Men’s Health Caucus focuses on raising awareness of health issues that affect men, boys, and their families through educational opportunities and briefings for members of Congress and their staff. The Caucus will also promote healthy lifestyles and physical fitness.

The caucus will advance understanding of diseases that disproportionately impact men and boys and will include a Prostate Cancer Task Force. More broadly, the Caucus will address both the physical and mental health needs of men and boys to reduce their premature death and disability.

The caucus will serve as an informal group of Members of Congress dedicated to issues related to men’s health.

WHY MEN’S HEALTH?

During the 20th Century, a lifespan gender gap grew in the United States, peaking at over seven years less life expectancy for men than for women. In the early 21st Century, the lifespan gender gap shrank to less than five years, proving that premature death of men is not inevitable. More recently, the lifespan gender gap has grown back to nearly six years due to factors such as disproportionately high “Deaths of Despair” among men from suicide, alcohol, and drugs.

Men accounted for roughly 60% of all COVID deaths and are victims in 93 percent of all workplace deaths in our nation. Men are also much less likely to have annual medical examinations and engage in preventative health services.

Due to a lack of awareness and poor health education, the health and well-being of men and boys have not kept up with the improvements enjoyed by women and girls. This is an issue of concern not only for men and boys, but also for the women and girls who love them, for employers who lose productive workers, and for all of the communities that lose the contributions that would have been made in the absence of premature death and disability among men and boys.

CO-CHAIRS

Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10)

Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX- 38)

VICE-CHAIRS

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA-36)

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI-6)

Rep. Menendez, Jr. (D-NJ-08)

Members

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA)
Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)
Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA)
Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC)
Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA)
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)
Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH)
Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK)
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA)
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)
Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL)
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Rep. David Scott (D-GA)
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)
Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO)
Rep. David G. Valadao (R-CA)
Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX)
Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR)
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA)
Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL)

LEGISLATION AND RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN DONALD M. PAYNE, JR. IN THE 117TH CONGRESS
H.R.5986 - Men’s Health Awareness and Improvement Act

This bill would create an Office of Men's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the office to support and promote men's health programs and initiatives.

H.Res.1171 - Supporting the designation of the week of June 13 through June 19, 2022, as "National Men's Health Week".

This resolution expresses support for National Men's Health Week.

H.Res.482 - Supporting the designation of the week of June 14 through June 20, 2021, as "National Men's Health Week".

This resolution expresses support for National Men's Health Week.

RESOURCES

Blueprint for Men’s Health
Men’s Health Factsheet
Prostate Cancer Factsheet
A silent crisis in Men’s health gets worse article.

TO JOIN THE MEN’S HEALTH CAUCUS
Please contact Elsie Guerrero at elsie.guerrero@mail.house.gov.

Issues:Health Care