[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1203 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1203

      Expressing support for the designation of July 17, 2024, as 
                    ``Glioblastoma Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 2024

 Mr. Williams of Texas (for himself, Mr. Mast, Ms. Schakowsky, and Mr. 
Auchincloss) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Expressing support for the designation of July 17, 2024, as 
                    ``Glioblastoma Awareness Day''.

Whereas approximately 14,490 new cases of glioblastoma were diagnosed in the 
        United States in 2023;
Whereas glioblastoma is--

    (1) the most common malignant (cancerous) brain tumor, accounting for 
approximately \1/2\ of all primary malignant brain tumors; and

    (2) the most aggressive, complex, difficult to treat, and deadly type 
of brain tumor;

Whereas it is estimated that more than 10,000 individuals in the United States 
        will succumb to glioblastoma each year;
Whereas the 5-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 6.9 percent, 
        and the median length of survival for glioblastoma patients is only 8 
        months;
Whereas glioblastoma is described as a disease that affects the ``essence of 
        self'', as the treatment and removal of glioblastoma presents 
        significant challenges due to the uniquely complex and fragile nature of 
        the brain, the primary organ in the human body that controls not only 
        cognitive ability, but also the actions of every organ and limb;
Whereas patients and caregivers play a critical role in furthering research for 
        glioblastoma;
Whereas, relative to other types of cancers, brain cancer patients pay the 
        second highest out-of-pocket costs for medical services in both the 
        initial and end-of-life phases of care;
Whereas, although research advances may fuel the development of new treatments 
        for glioblastoma, challenging obstacles to accelerating progress toward 
        new treatments for glioblastoma remain, and there are no screening or 
        early detection methods;
Whereas, in 2021, the World Health Organization reclassified brain tumors and 
        made significant changes to the molecular characteristics of a 
        glioblastoma diagnosis, necessitating critical biomarker testing for 
        patients suspected of having a possible glioblastoma;
Whereas, although glioblastoma was first described in medical and scientific 
        literature in the 1920s, and despite its devastating prognosis, only 5 
        drugs and 1 medical device have been approved by the Food and Drug 
        Administration to specifically treat glioblastoma since the 1920s, and 
        the mortality rates associated with glioblastoma have changed little 
        during the past 30 years;
Whereas, since the first Glioblastoma Awareness Day, the National Cancer 
        Institute established the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network (referred to 
        in this preamble as ``GTN'') in 2020 as part of a national 
        infrastructure to enhance and support the discovery and development of 
        glioblastoma therapies available for multi-institutional GTN teams to 
        drive therapeutic agents through preclinical studies and early phase 
        clinical trials, which are necessary to rapidly evaluate potential 
        treatments to advance toward cures and improved quality of life;
Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of glioblastoma, including 
        awareness of both--

    (1) the urgent unmet medical needs of glioblastoma patients; and

    (2) the opportunities for research of, and treatment advances for, 
glioblastoma; and

Whereas the House of Representatives supports designating July 17, 2024, as 
        ``Glioblastoma Awareness Day'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of ``Glioblastoma 
        Awareness Day'';
            (2) encourages increased public awareness of glioblastoma;
            (3) honors the individuals who have died from the 
        devastating disease of glioblastoma or are currently living 
        with the disease;
            (4) supports efforts to develop better treatments for 
        glioblastoma that will improve the long-term prognosis for, and 
        the quality of life of, individuals diagnosed with the disease;
            (5) recognizes the importance of molecular biomarker 
        testing to the diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma;
            (6) expresses support for the individuals who are battling 
        brain tumors, as well as the families, friends, and caregivers 
        of those individuals;
            (7) urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research 
        among governmental, private, and nonprofit organizations, which 
        is a promising means of advancing the understanding and 
        treatment of glioblastoma; and
            (8) encourages continued investments in glioblastoma 
        research and treatments, including through the Glioblastoma 
        Therapeutics Network and other existing brain tumor research 
        resources.
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