Grassley Celebrates Iowan Athena Porter’s Advocacy for Cervical Cancer Prevention

Floor Remarks by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore “Celebrating Athena Porter’s Advocacy” Wednesday, April 15, 2026 VIDEO I’m here to honor a fellow Iowan, a person that I know very well ... So, I want to celebrate an Iowan’s advocacy to prevent cancer. Athena Porter, from Leon, Iowa, is a proud graduate of my university, the University of Northern Iowa, and she also served on my staff for a considerable amount of time. She [has] now [been] working for a long time in the rural health clinic there in Leon, Iowa. She’s also a community leader. In 2023, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Unlike most cancers, cervical cancer can be prevented by taking [the] HPV vaccine . Through proactive preventive care, Athena found out in her 20s that she was HPV-positive, making her at risk for cervical cancer. In partnership with her doctors, Athena routinely checked on the status of the virus in her body. After giving birth to her second child, Athena found out news you never want to hear, that she had cervical cancer. Thanks to early detection, Athena was able to get care to eliminate the cancer. Today, as a result of her bout with cancer, Athena is an advocate for vaccine use, early screenings and proper treatment, all because she appreciates being a cervical cancer survivor. So, I want to thank Athena for publicly sharing her story. And also, it gives her experience as an encouragement for others to get early care and get early care as often as you can. -30-