Halle Berry makes push for $275M menopause research bill

Hollywood actor Halle Berry joined a bipartisan group of senators on Thursday to introduce a bill that would authorize $275 million to increase research, training, and public awareness about menopause and midlife women’s health issues. Announced.

Berry, who has been outspoken about misdiagnosis related to menopause, gave a passionate statement at a press conference outside Parliament House. promote the billcalled “Menopause Care and Health Methods for Middle-Aged Women.”

She thanked Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), with whom she met for the first time to discuss the issue, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who joined Murray as co-sponsor on the bill. He also thanked the state and said: I knew right away, “Oh my god.” This will be a bipartisan movement. ”

“Because I can’t think of a topic that shouldn’t be politicized. I can’t think of an issue that’s more like a human rights issue than anything else, so it’s really important for all women to have support from both sides,” she continued.

“I think this is probably one of the most important things we do for ourselves in our lifetime. And it’s really important that we all unite and link arms.” I’m so honored to be here.” Join this movement that’s happening. ”

Ms. Berry said her work on women’s midlife health and menopause is focused on helping women get the appropriate medical care they need and reducing the stigma surrounding menopause. He said he considers it the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

“It’s not time to go out to pasture and lie down and die like our society tells me it’s time to do it. I want to start a whole new career,” Berry said, adding, “Filmmaking is It’s been good so far and I’m proud of it, but I want to give back in a really big way with my next move in life, and that’s something that will be talked about long after I’m gone, but that’s all. It will really make a difference in the lives of women.”

The bill comes amid intense scrutiny over the lack of attention to symptoms associated with menopause.a recent research found that only 30 percent of training programs in the United States offer a formal menopause curriculum, and 80 percent of programs do. says a resident obstetrician and gynecologist. They were not prepared to discuss menopause with patients.

The bill would authorize $125 million in National Institutes of Health research grants over five years. $50 million for public health promotion activities. $50 million to establish national public health awareness and assistance programs. $50 million to improve professional training resources for health care providers.

It also supports federal interagency coordination, directs the designation of centers of excellence in menopause and midlife women’s health, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report to Congress on federal research activities related to menopause. .

“For too long, menopause has been something women have had to endure in silence. Like many women’s health issues, menopause has been ignored, underinvested and left behind.” Murray said in a statement.

She added that the bill would build on the Biden administration’s Women’s Health Research Initiative.

“Despite the fact that menopause is such an important part of every woman’s life and how severe its symptoms are, very little research has been done on this topic,” Professor Murkowski said in a statement. Ta.

The bill is supported by Murray and Murkowski, the chairs of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar. (D-Minn.), Sen. Shelley Moore, and others. Capito (RW. Virginia).

Co-sponsors include Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Ill.). She has received support from many other women in the Senate, including (DN). ), Maggie Hassan (D.N.H.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Jeanne Shaheen (D.N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) ), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona).

Berry said she hopes all women in the Senate will unite in support of the bill.

“I’m here as an American citizen, as a woman demanding that our government give us what we need, because we have a right to it,” she said. “We’ve been ignored. We’ve been abandoned for far too long. And I’m so grateful that we have a team of strong, smart women who are saying enough is enough. Because… That’s enough. That’s enough.”