[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 234 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 234

  Recognizing the importance of breast cancer early detection efforts.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 2011

    Mrs. Myrick (for herself, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Duncan of 
   Tennessee, Mr. Hall, Mr. Kissell, and Mrs. Schmidt) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the importance of breast cancer early detection efforts.

Whereas the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program 
        (NBCCEDP) was launched 20 years ago to provide early detection services 
        for low-income women who are uninsured or underinsured and do not 
        qualify for Medicaid;
Whereas the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment and Prevention Act of 2000 
        (BCCTPA) was launched 10 years ago to provide treatment assistance 
        through Medicaid for eligible women who were screened through NBCCEDP;
Whereas NBCCEDP and BCCTPA have effectively reduced mortality among low-income 
        uninsured and medically underserved women with breast cancer;
Whereas early detection of breast cancer increases survival rates for the 
        disease, as evidenced by a 5-year relative survival rate of 98 percent 
        for breast cancers that are discovered before they have moved beyond the 
        breast compared to 23 percent for stage IV breast cancers;
Whereas the cost of treating stage IV breast cancer is more than 5 times as 
        expensive as treating stage I breast cancers;
Whereas significant disparities in breast cancer outcomes persist across racial 
        and ethnic groups;
Whereas breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading 
        cause of cancer death among women worldwide;
Whereas more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 
        the United States this year and more than 40,000 will die;
Whereas every woman should have access to life-saving screening and treatment 
        that is not dependent on where she lives;
Whereas investments in cancer research have improved the understanding of the 
        family of diseases known jointly as breast cancer and led to more 
        effective, personalized treatments; and
Whereas organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure empower women with 
        knowledge and awareness, ensure access to quality care, and energize 
        science to discover and deliver cures for breast cancer: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Federal Government should--
            (1) maintain its commitment to ensuring access to life-
        saving breast cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment 
        services, particularly for medically underserved women;
            (2) increase awareness and improve education about breast 
        cancer, the importance of early detection, and the availability 
        of screening services for women in need; and
            (3) maintain its commitment to discovering and delivering 
        the cures for cancer and encouraging the development of 
        screening tools that are more accurate and less costly.
                                 <all>