[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 36 (Friday, March 25, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       NATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH WEEK

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam President, on behalf of Senator Dole, I ask 
unanimous consent to proceed to Senate Joint Resolution 179 now at the 
desk introduced by Senator Dole, and I ask for its immediate 
consideration. I further ask unanimous consent that the joint 
resolution be deemed read three times and passed and the motion to 
reconsider laid on the table and the preamble be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 179) was deemed read three times 
and passed.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The joint resolution (S.J. Res 179), with its preamble, reads as 
follows:

                             S. J. Res. 179

       Whereas despite the advances in medical technology and 
     research, men continue to live an average of 7 years less 
     than women;
       Whereas the likelihood that a man will develop prostate 
     cancer is 1 in 11;
       Whereas the number of men contacting prostate cancer will 
     reach over 120,000 in 1993, with an expected one-third of the 
     cases to die from the disease;
       Whereas testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers 
     in men aged 15-34, and when detected early, has an 87 percent 
     survival rate;
       Whereas the number of men contracting lung disease will 
     reach over 100,000 in 1993, with an expected 85 percent of 
     the cases to die from the disease;
       Whereas the number of cases of colon cancer among men will 
     reach over 80,000 in 1993; with nearly one-third of the cases 
     to die from the disease;
       Whereas the death rate for prostate cancer has grown at 
     almost twice the death rate of breast cancer in the last five 
     years;
       Whereas African-American men in the United States have the 
     highest incidence in the world of cancer of the prostate;
       Whereas men are seven times as likely as women to be 
     arrested for drunk driving and three times as likely to be 
     alcoholics;
       Whereas women visit the doctor 150 percent as often as men 
     enabling them to detect health problems in their early 
     stages;
       Whereas significant numbers of male related health problems 
     such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility, and 
     colon cancer, could be detected and treated if men's 
     awareness of these problems was more pervasive;
       Whereas educating both the public and health care providers 
     about the importance of early detection of male health 
     problems will result in reducing rates of mortality for these 
     diseases;
       Whereas appropriate use of tests such as Prostate Specific 
     Antigen (PSA) exams, blood pressure screens, cholesterol 
     screens, etc., in conjunction with clinical examination and 
     self-testing for problems such as testicular cancer can 
     result in the detection of many of these problems in their 
     early stages and increases in the survival rates to nearly 
     100 percent;
       Whereas many men are reluctant to visit their health center 
     or physician for regular screening examinations of male 
     related problems for a variety of reasons including fear, 
     lack of information, and cost factors; and
       Whereas men who are educated about the value that 
     preventive health can play in prolonging their lifespan and 
     their role as a productive family member will be more likely 
     to participate in health screenings: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That June 12 
     through 19, 1994, is designated as National Men's Health 
     Week, and the President is authorized and requested to issue 
     a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States 
     to observe this week with appropriate programs and 
     activities.

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