[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6447-S6448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    DESIGNATING JUNE 5, 1999, AS ``NATIONAL RACE FOR THE CURE DAY''

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 110, 
submitted earlier by Senator Hutchison, for herself and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

[[Page S6448]]

  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 110) designating June 5, 1999, as 
     ``National Race for the Cure Day''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, this resolution, submitted by Senator 
Feinstein and I, commemorates the Tenth Anniversary of the National 
Race for the Cure. We are pleased to be joined by over 40 other 
Senators, including Majority Leader Lott and Minority Leader Daschle.
  Mr. President, on June 5, 1999, the National Race for the Cure will 
take place in Washington, D.C. This will be the Tenth Anniversary of 
this Race--that has drawn national attention and thousands of 
volunteers and runners.
  All are united by one goal--to eradicate breast cancer from our 
lives.
  The Resolution we are introducing today will designate June 5th as 
National Race for the Cure Day.
  This Race has very special meaning for me. The Race for the Cure was 
started by the Susan G. Komen Foundation which is located in my 
hometown, Dallas, Texas.
  The Susan G. Komen Foundation was founded in 1982 by Nancy Brinker. 
The Foundation honors her sister, Susan Komen, who tragically died of 
breast cancer at the young age of 36. Nancy promised herself that she 
would fulfill Suzy's plea to help others confronted with this disease.
  The mission of the Foundation is to eradicate breast cancer as a 
life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening 
and treatment.
  Nancy Brinker's pledge to her sister has grown to be a major factor 
in fighting breast cancer. The Foundation has 35,000 volunteers and 106 
offices across the United States.
  The Komen Foundation's Grant Program is regarded as one of the most 
innovative in funding breast cancer research today. The Komen 
Foundation has financed 325 grants at 72 institutions in 25 states.
  The Foundation's most public event, however, has become the Race for 
the Cure. The Race for the Cure has become the largest series of Five 
Kilometer Runs in the world.
  The Race series stated as one event in Texas with 800 participants. 
But, this year, there will be 98 races across the United States with 
over 700,000 people participating.
  The Komen Foundation and the Race for the Cure have raised over $136 
million for breast cancer research.
  On June 5th, the National Race for the Cure will celebrate its tenth 
anniversary. It is the largest of the Races across the U.S. In fact, 
there are more than 50,000 entrants already signed up for this race.
  This resolution commemorates the Tenth Anniversary and it designates 
June 5th as National Race for the Cure Day.
  Mr. President, I think it is fitting that the Senate recognize this 
unique day.
  Breast cancer is the leading cause of death of women between the ages 
of 35 and 54. A woman in the United States will be diagnosed with 
breast cancer every three minutes, and every 12 minutes a woman will 
die of breast cancer.
  The Race for the Cure is one day, when Americans of all walks of 
life, can come together united in a great cause to wipe out this 
terrible disease.
  Mr. President. I would urge the Senate to adopt this resolution. Is 
also want to thank the numerous other Senators that were part of this 
effort. Thank you, Mr. President.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I am pleased to cosponsor with 
Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison, Pete Domenici and Connie Mack a 
resolution commending the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and 
the Komen National Race for the Cure for their commitment to 
eradicating breast cancer. June 5 will be the Komen National Race for 
the Cure Day and this resolution urges the President to issue a 
proclamation calling upon the American people to observe the day with 
appropriate activities.
  Washington, D.C., will host the Race and there will be 98 races 
across the country will over 700,000 people participating.
  There are 2.6 million women in this country living with breast cancer 
and more than 178,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 
43,000 will die.
  Diagnostic tools for breast cancer are very limited. Treatments for 
breast cancer are at best imperfect. We don't know how to prevent it. 
We don't know how to cure it. We need to redouble our effort to stop 
breast cancer now.
  Congress is taking some steps. During the FY 2000 appropriations 
process, I hope we can increase researching funding for all cancers. We 
must pass legislation, such as S. 784 which I have sponsored, to 
require Medicare coverage of routine costs of clinical research trials 
and S. 6, to require private insurance coverage of the routine costs of 
clinical research trials. We should enact legislation assuring access 
to specialists and coverage of second opinions. We should pass Medicaid 
coverage for women who are screened by CDC's breast and cervical cancer 
program but have no way to pay for treatment when they learn they have 
cancer.
  I call on my colleagues to join us in supporting the 10th anniversary 
Race by supporting this resolution and sending it to the President. As 
new understandings of cancer emerge almost weekly, we must do all we 
can to support increased research and access to services to end this 
scourge.
  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 110) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The Resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 110

       Whereas breast cancer is the leading cause of death for 
     women between the ages of 35 and 54;
       Whereas every 3 minutes a woman will be diagnosed with 
     breast cancer and every 12 minutes a woman will die of breast 
     cancer;
       Whereas the Komen National Race for the Cure is celebrating 
     its 10th Anniversary during 1999;
       Whereas the Komen National Race for the Cure Series, an 
     event of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, is the 
     largest series of 5 kilometer races in the world;
       Whereas there will be 98 Komen National Race for the Cure 
     events throughout the United States during 1999; and
       Whereas the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the 
     Komen National Race for the Cure Series has raised an 
     estimated $136,000,000 to further the mission of eradicating 
     breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing 
     research, education, screening, and treatment: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. COMMEMORATION AND DESIGNATION.

       The Senate.--
       (1) commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the National Race 
     for the Cure;
       (2) designates June 5, 1999, as ``National Race for the 
     Cure Day''; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     day with appropriate programs and activities.

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