[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1328 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1328

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness 
                                 Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 9, 2008

   Mr. Platts (for himself and Mr. Cummings) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness 
                                 Month.

Whereas an estimated 37,680 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this 
        year in the United States;
Whereas pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the 
        United States;
Whereas 75 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first year of 
        their diagnosis, and 95 percent die within 5 years, making pancreatic 
        cancer the deadliest of any cancer;
Whereas there has been no significant improvement in survival rates in over 30 
        years, and pancreatic cancer research is still in the earliest 
        scientific stages;
Whereas there are no early detection methods and minimal treatment options for 
        pancreatic cancer;
Whereas when symptoms of pancreatic cancer generally present themselves, it is 
        too late for an optimistic prognosis, and the average survival rate of 
        those diagnosed with metastatic disease is only 3 to 6 months;
Whereas the incidence rate of pancreatic cancer is 40 to 50 percent higher in 
        African-Americans than in other ethnic groups;
Whereas pancreatic cancer research constitutes less than 2 percent of the 
        National Cancer Institute's Federal research funding, a figure far too 
        low given the severity of the disease, its mortality rate, and how 
        little is known about how to arrest it;
Whereas in 2001, the National Cancer Institute developed Pancreatic Cancer: An 
        Agenda for Action, but 7 years later, only 5 of the action plan's 39 
        recommendations have been fully implemented;
Whereas pancreatic cancer death rates have increased and 250,000 more Americans 
        have died from this disease;
Whereas the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network recognized that science has 
        advanced since 2001, and created the National Plan to Advance Pancreatic 
        Cancer Research to identify the highest research priorities, scientific 
        infrastructure needs, and workforce training requirements that are 
        needed to make true progress in pancreatic cancer research; and
Whereas the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has requested that the Congress 
        designate November as ``National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month'' in 
        order to educate communities across the Nation about pancreatic cancer 
        and the need for research funding, early detection methods, effective 
        treatments, and prevention programs: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes that a strong, sustained commitment of 
        resources is needed to learn what causes pancreatic cancer, 
        ways to detect and diagnose it earlier, and test compounds that 
        will extend survival and improve quality of life; and
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Pancreatic 
        Cancer Awareness Month''.
                                 <all>