Ashley Hinson

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is introducing a bill in Congress to divert a portion of federal tobacco tax revenue to fund cancer research, taking inspiration from a recent Iowa law.

Hinson, a Republican who represents northeast Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, introduced the Cancer Research Trust Fund Act for the first time this month.

The bill would direct 10% of the customs and duties currently collected on imported tobacco products into a Cancer Research Trust Fund.

The fund would be directed to prioritize pediatric and rare cancer research, including early detection, prevention, innovative treatments and therapies and research and development.

"Cancer has touched nearly every family in America," Hinson said in a statement provided exclusively to the Des Moines Register. "If the U.S. is already collecting millions of dollars on imported tobacco products, we should put it towards fighting cancer and saving lives. Last year alone, under my bill, that would have meant roughly $24 million for cancer research, investments in innovative treatments, and ultimately, more hope for families battling cancer. I urge my colleagues to support this common sense solution and for it to be considered on the floor as soon as possible."

The idea comes after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a state law in June to create a 5-cent tax on vapes and alternative nicotine products and use the money to fund $3 million in annual pediatric cancer research.

The United States collected $242.8 million in customs and duties on imported tobacco products in fiscal year 2025, Hinson's office said. If Hinson's bill had been in effect, $24.3 million would have gone toward cancer research.

The secretary of the treasury would transfer money from the fund to the secretary of health and human services to carry out the research specified in the bill.

Hinson is running for U.S. Senate this year, seeking to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst.

Her Democratic opponent, state Rep. Josh Turek, has criticized Hinson's health care record, including her vote for the "One Big, Beautiful Bill," which is estimated to cut federal Medicaid spending by about $911 billion over the next decade.

Hinson has touted a provision in the One Big, Beautiful Bill that uses $50 billion to create a Rural Health Transformation Fund. Iowa has already received $209 million from the fund, $50 million of which will be used for cancer screening, prevention and treatment.

Hinson has introduced several other health care-related bills in Congress, including legislation to improve access to breast cancer screenings in rural areas, allow over-the-counter birth control pills and several maternal health-focused bills that would expand access to midwives, lactation spaces and pregnancy care.