Recognizing the history of the drug diethylstilbestrol and the harm it has caused, and for other purposes.
This is a House Resolution recognizing the history and harm caused by the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES). It notes that DES was approved by the FDA in the early 1940s and prescribed to millions of pregnant women through 1971 to prevent miscarriage. The resolution highlights serious health harms linked to in utero DES exposure, including rare cancers in female offspring (DES Daughters) and various fertility, pregnancy, and health issues. It also notes that the FDA banned DES in 1971 and that the agency has acknowledged harm but has not issued an apology. The resolution designates a DES Awareness Week (April 20–26, 2025), supports restoring funding for the DES Follow-Up Study, and urges the FDA to issue a formal apology to impacted families. As a non-binding expression of Congress, it does not create new law or spending but signals congressional support for awareness, ongoing research, and accountability.
Key Points
- 1Recognizes that DES is a toxic, carcinogenic estrogen and endocrine disruptor, and that it was prescribed to millions of pregnant women in the U.S. from the 1940s until 1971.
- 2Notes the link between in utero DES exposure and serious health harms, including rare cancers in female offspring (DES Daughters) and broader fertility, pregnancy, and health issues.
- 3Acknowledges that the FDA banned DES for use during pregnancy in 1971.
- 4Establishes April 20–26, 2025 as DES Awareness Week to educate and raise awareness about DES and its effects.
- 5Calls for the restoration of funding for the DES Follow-Up Study and urges the FDA to issue a formal apology to families impacted by DES.