[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10854-S10855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH FUNDING

 Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to call the attention of 
my colleagues to a subject that many of us, especially men, do not like 
to discuss publicly--prostate cancer. However, as one of the most 
frequently diagnosed cancers in the country, prostate cancer is a 
subject that we cannot afford to ignore.
  In my home state of Nevada, it is estimated that 1,100 men will be 
diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone. Nationwide, 200,000 men 
will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998. This deadly disease 
will take the lives of 40,000 American men this year alone. Prostate 
cancer kills as many Americans yearly as AIDS or breast cancer.
  The increase in regular screenings for prostate cancer over the past 
few years is encouraging. Last year, I had the opportunity to 
participate in the Senate Special Committee on Aging's hearing on 
prostate cancer. Nevada's Governor Bob Miller, along with former Senate 
Majority Leader Bob Dole, NFL Hall of Famer Len Dawson and General 
Manager of the New York Yankees, Bob Watson all testified about their 
personal experiences with prostate cancer. These men shared a common 
message that was clear and urgent: get tested for prostate cancer as 
early as possible, because early detection increases survival rates 
tremendously.
  While the importance of early detection through regular screenings 
cannot be overstated, we can and we must do more. In each of the last 
two fiscal years, Congress has appropriated $40 million for new, 
cutting-edge peer-reviewed research at the Department of Defense. In 
instituting the program, the DOD found it necessary to combine the 
funds from both years to meet the needs of the grant proposals received 
in the first cycle. Consequently, the President announced the first 
cycle of prostate cancer research grants--releasing $60 million in June 
and July for peer-reviewed research.
  In this year's Defense Appropriations Bill, we have provided $40 
million for prostate cancer research. The House bill has only allocated 
$10 million for this purpose. These numbers fall short of what is 
needed to fund crucial research initiatives. I hope that when the 
Defense Appropriations Bill is in Conference this week, funding levels 
for prostate cancer research will be increased. Without adequate 
resources, promising research into causes and treatments for prostate 
cancer will go unfunded. For lack of research, millions of men and 
their families will face critical unanswered questions about screening, 
diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cures for prostate cancer.
  Yesterday, 110 American men died of prostate cancer. That same number 
will die today, tomorrow, and every

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day until research identifies a cure. I hope that my colleagues will 
make more funds available for the prostate cancer research program at 
the Department of Defense so that we may offer hope to the millions 
affected by this deadly disease.

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