A controversial proposal to create an “HPV plan” on college campuses was stopped, at least temporarily, as the author of the proposal killed it during a House floor speech late Friday.
State Rep. Donna Howard’s (D-Austin) proposed measure, also known as House Bill 1787, would order the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop a plan to educate Texas students about the dangers of the human papillomavirus, a common sexually transmitted disease.
Her proposal generated pushback when it was considered and voted out by the Republican-majority House Higher Education Committee ahead of GOP priorities.
Howard responded to her bill’s critics during her floor speech.
She sarcastically embraced the term “Reigning Queen of the Tyranny Squad,” a moniker she claimed social media users had given her. In a move drawn from the late 1990s song “Raise the Roof,” Howard raised her arms to the sky and chanted “tyranny squad.”
She subsequently spoke for several minutes about the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer. She specifically cited high rates of cervical cancer in younger women.
Howard also claimed, “It’s your problem now, too, men,” and cited a claim that “70 percent of oropharyngeal cancers are in men.” Oropharyngeal cancers are a medical term for throat cancer, a common side effect of certain forms of oral sex.
In discussing opposition to her bill, Howard spoke against “misinformation” in a flyer distributed by an activist group. While Howard did not cite the activist group by name, Texans for Vaccine Choice testified against this bill in committee, arguing it would place undue focus on vaccination at the expense of discouraging irresponsible forms of sexual activity.
Howard claimed colleagues “choose to let people die to protect a political scorecard.”
Following her speech, Howard moved to postpone consideration of her bill until June 3, 2025. Because the final day of the current legislative session is June 2, her move may have killed her proposal.
However, it could still re-emerge as an amendment on another bill or as a provision in a conference report.
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