[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 16, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  H.R. 961, THE OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH AND INFORMATION AMENDMENTS OF 
                                  1999

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that I 
have recently introduced H.R. 961, the Ovarian Cancer Research and 
Information Amendments of 1999, and would like to invite my colleagues 
to join me in support of this bill.
  H.R. 961 builds upon the Ovarian Cancer Research and Information 
Amendments of 1997, H.R. 953 which had 85 cosponsors in the 105th 
Congress.
  The Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1999 has 
three components. First, it authorizes $150 million of ovarian cancer 
research. One half to be spent on basic cancer research and one half on 
clinical trials and treatment.
  Of this research, the bill requires that priority be given to: 
developing a test for the early detection of ovarian cancer; research 
to identify precursor lesions and research to determine the manner in 
which benign conditions progress to malignant status; research to 
determine the relationship between ovarian cancer and endometriosis; 
and requires that appropriate counseling, including on the issue of 
genetic basis, be provided to women who participate as subjects in 
research.
  Second, the bill provides for a comprehensive information program to 
provide the patients and the public information regarding screening 
procedures; information on the genetic basis to ovarian cancer; any 
known factors which increase risk of getting ovarian cancer; and any 
new treatments for ovarian cancer.
  Finally, it requires that the National Cancer Advisory Board include 
one or more individuals who are at high risk for developing ovarian 
cancer.
  Unlike the bill from the previous Congress, H.R. 961 does not contain 
the section authorizing a Specialized Program of Research Excellence 
(SPORE) for Ovarian Cancer. Although this was a major component of the 
previous bill, I am pleased to report that the Scientific Advisory 
Board at the National Cancer Institute approved a SPORE for Ovarian 
Cancer last year and funding for it should be released this summer.
  I would like to commend the National Cancer Research Institute for 
their efforts on this particular subject.
  I invite my colleagues to cosponsor this bill and help to give women 
a fighting chance against ovarian cancer.

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