{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-legislation-to-increase-access-to-sti-testing", "Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Legislation to Increase Access to STI Testing", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Nikema Williams", "W000788", "nikemawilliams.house.gov", "nikemawilliams", "https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press", "scraper", "New legislation to create a more equitable healthcare system\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Equity in STI Testing Act, legislation that would make certain tests for sexually-transmitted diseases free of charge. Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) is co-leading the introduction of the Equity in STI Testing Act.\n\nThe Equity in STI Testing Act will require coverage for STI testing without patient cost sharing under Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, CHIP, TRICARE, the Indian Health Service and for veterans.\n\nThe Equity in STI Testing Act will make regular STI testing available for millions of Americans, without out of pocket costs. Please join us in supporting this common-sense legislation to protect reproductive and public health.\n\nCongresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:\n\n\u201cFor years, I worked on the front lines bringing sexual healthcare to those who needed it most. Far too often, those people were already excluded from our healthcare system. My Equity in STI Testing Act will help ensure that everyone has access to STI testing. This is one step toward creating a more just and equitable healthcare system, and I won\u2019t stop fighting until there are no barriers to essential healthcare, including STI testing.\u201d\n\nCongressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) said:\n\n\u201cIn the Bronx, I\u2019ve seen what happens when people can\u2019t afford the care they need until it\u2019s too late. STIs are common, treatable, and preventable, but only if people can get tested without worrying about the bill. The Equity in STI Testing Act is a simple, common-sense fix: no cost sharing for testing under Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, CHIP, TRICARE, the Indian Health Service, and for our veterans. Public health shouldn\u2019t come with a price tag. I\u2019m proud to co-lead this bill with Congresswoman Williams.\u201d\n\nThe Equity in STI Testing Act is endorsed by AID Atlanta, American Academy of Family Physicians, Empowerment Resource Center, Georgia AIDS Coalition, HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute, HIV Medicine Association, Human Rights Campaign, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, & Status:Home\n\nThe Georgia AIDS Coalition said:\n\n\u201cThe Georgia AIDS Coalition, established in 1989, strongly supports Congress passing the \u201cSupport Access to STI Testing Act\u201d. Getting tested for STI\u2019s is important for your health. STIs often have no symptoms, so you may not know you have one. But even without symptoms, infections can cause serious health problems and be unknowingly passed on to others. Untreated STIs can cause severe complications, including premature birth, stillbirth, or transmission of the infection to the baby during childbirth, and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which may cause permanent damage and infertility. Untreated infections can also affect the heart and brain and increase susceptibility to HIV. This legislation will provide access to regular STI testing, saving funds in long-term treatment.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to STI testing, including HIV testing, without patient cost sharing will significantly reduce barriers and increase the ability of people with Medicaid and other payers to access the sexual health tests they need to remain healthy and link them to appropriate care and treatment .\u201d commented Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. \u201cWe thank Reps. Nikema Williams and Ritchie Torres for their leadership and introducing the Equity in STI Testing Act. At a time of rising HIV and skyrocketing STIs, now is the time for the Congress to quickly adopt it.\u201d concluded Schmid.\n\nSTI infection is prevalent, and impacts Americans of every walk of life. According to the CDC, more than 2.2 million people reported STIs in 2024. Across the country, twenty percent of Americans have an STI at any given time.\n\nThese conditions are often asymptomatic, and may go unnoticed, but when not diagnosed and treated, some STIs can significantly impact patients\u2019 long term wellbeing. Under diagnosis impacts patients\u2019 ability to get the timely care they need, and may contribute to increased transmission of these conditions. Accessible testing is an important component of mitigating the public health impact of STIs.", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-legislation-to-increase-access-to-sti-testing"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0159038938581944, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}