[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H4677-H4682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING IMPORTANCE OF RAISING PUBLIC 
                      AWARENESS OF PROSTATE CANCER

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 211) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives regarding the importance of raising public awareness of 
prostate cancer, and of regular testing and examinations in the fight 
against prostate cancer.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 211

       Whereas nearly 180,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate 
     cancer in 1999, and an estimated 37,000 men will die of the 
     disease;
       Whereas prostate cancer is the second most common form of 
     cancer among men and the second leading cause of cancer death 
     among men;
       Whereas prostate cancer can often be treated successfully 
     if detected early on, although most symptoms are nonspecific 
     and there are few reliable risk factors;
       Whereas education and regular testing and examinations are 
     critical to detecting and treating prostate cancer in a 
     timely manner;
       Whereas the American Cancer Society recommends that all men 
     aged 50 and over have annual examinations and tests for 
     prostate

[[Page H4678]]

     cancer, and that African American men and men with family 
     histories of prostate cancer, who are at higher risk for the 
     disease, should consider taking such steps at an earlier age;
       Whereas the House of Representatives as an institution, and 
     Members of Congress as individuals, are in unique positions 
     to help raise public awareness about the detection and 
     treatment of prostate cancer and to support the fight against 
     prostate cancer: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) all American men should take an active role in the 
     fight against prostate cancer by all the means that are 
     available to them, including regular testing and medical 
     examinations;
       (2) the role played by national and community organizations 
     and health care providers in promoting awareness of the 
     importance of regular examinations and testing for prostate 
     cancer, and in providing related information, support, and 
     access to services, should be recognized and applauded;
       (3) the Federal Government has a responsibility to--
       (A) endeavor to raise awareness about the importance of the 
     early detection of, and proper treatment for, prostate 
     cancer;
       (B) continue to fund research so that the causes of, and 
     improved treatment for, prostate cancer may be discovered; 
     and
       (C) continue to consider ways to improve access to, and the 
     quality of, health care services for detecting and treating 
     prostate cancer.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the legislation under consideration, H. Res. 211, and to 
insert extraneous material in the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise, of course, in support of H. Res. 211, a 
resolution to raise public awareness of prostate cancer and convey the 
importance of regular testing and examinations to fight this terrible 
disease. I am proud to be an original cosponsor, and certainly it is 
very fitting that we all pay tribute to the gentleman from New 
Hampshire (Mr. Bass), who has worked so very hard on this legislation 
and was able to keep pushing it so we could get it to this particular 
point.
  According to the National Institutes of Health, prostate cancer is 
the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer in American men. The 
National Cancer Institute reports that over 200,000 new cases of 
prostate cancer were diagnosed in the United States in 1997 alone. 
Tragically, approximately 40,000 men will die of the disease this year.
  Since testing for early detection of prostate cancer became 
relatively common, the prostate cancer death rate has declined. 
However, too many lives are still lost to this disease because it is 
not detected early enough or because treatment is received too late. It 
is critical, critical that American men use all available means to 
fight prostate cancer, including regular testing and medical 
examinations.
  The resolution before us today encourages men to be active in the 
battle against prostate cancer. It also encourages national and 
community organizations, along with health care providers, to promote 
the importance of medical examinations and testing.
  In addition, this resolution emphasizes the Federal Government's 
responsibility to provide the necessary resources to fund research to 
determine the causes of and treatments for prostate cancer.
  As chairman of the Subcommittee on Health and Environment of the 
Committee on Commerce, I have been a strong supporter, as have so very 
many others, of increasing the Federal Government's commitment to 
biomedical research. In particular, I have endorsed the proposal to 
double Federal funding for the NIH over 5 years.
  In an effort to provide additional funding for NIH research efforts, 
I have introduced H.R. 785, the Biomedical Research Assistance 
Voluntary Option, or BRAVO, as we call it, Act. My bill would allow 
taxpayers to designate a portion of any Federal income tax refund to 
support biomedical research to the National Institutes of Health.
  Mr. Speaker, we all know that the war against cancer is far from 
over. Today, the House of Representatives can play a supportive role in 
the fight against prostate cancer by increasing public awareness about 
the importance of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. I 
urge all my colleagues to support H. Res. 211.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The resolution we are considering today is important, and we are 
pleased to cooperate with the majority's request to discharge it from 
the Committee on Commerce on an expedited basis. We hope and expect 
that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will extend the same 
consideration for issues that we hold important. Our goal must be to 
work in a timely manner and on a bipartisan basis so that beneficial 
initiatives can move through this Congress.
  One out of ten men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. 
One out of ten. Forty thousand men will die from it each year. Early 
detection is critical, and raising awareness about the disease is the 
best way to promote regular testing.
  This resolution says we can play a unique role in our districts and 
through this Congress on the national level also through national 
exposure to raise public awareness about prostate cancer.
  In 1994, I founded the Northeast Ohio Breast and Prostate Cancer Task 
Force to help organize efforts at the local level to combat these 
cancers. Last Sunday, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, I had the honor of 
presenting an award to the Cleveland Indians' Mike Hargrove and Jim 
Thome on behalf of the team for their support for prostate cancer 
research. This award is part of the Association for the Cure of Cancer 
of the Prostate and Major League Baseball's 1999 Home Run Challenge. 
During Father's Day Week, June 20 to 25, every home run hit in 60 
selected games will raise money directed towards prostate cancer 
research.
  This resolution today, Mr. Speaker, is a statement of the need to do 
more to fight prostate cancer and to help men who have this illness. 
But this Congress can and should do much more. We should pass the 
Patients' Bill of Rights, which would protect prostate cancer patients 
from arbitrary coverage denials and ensure their access to the right 
specialists and to clinical trials.
  We should be aggressive in bringing down the cost of prescription 
drugs and pass the Prescription Drugs Fairness Act. Drug company 
markups place barriers in the way of life-saving medicine.
  And we should move quickly to pass the Breast and Cervical Cancer 
Act.
  We should follow through, Mr. Speaker, with initiatives that help 
prevent and treat prostate cancer and other illnesses that take such a 
tremendous toll on our families and on our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass), the sponsor of this 
legislation.
  Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I rise in strong support of the prostate cancer awareness 
resolution.
  I wish to thank the minority for allowing this to be expedited 
through the committee process, and as I said a minute ago, I thank the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley) and the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Bilirakis), as well as the majority leader, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Armey), and the rest of the House leadership. This is a very 
important resolution to not only myself, but many hundreds of thousands 
of other men around the country who may be affected by prostate cancer.
  Now, last week during National Men's Health Week, which concluded on 
Father's Day, there was a lot of discussion about the most serious of 
health issues facing men, and one of them at least is prostate cancer.

                              {time}  1430

  This year 180,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer; and, as 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) mentioned, 40,000 will die 
of the disease.

[[Page H4679]]

  Prostate cancer, in fact, is the second leading cause of cancer among 
men, second only to skin cancer; and it is the second leading cause of 
cancer death among men. This cancer can often be treated successfully 
if it is detected early, but most symptoms are nonspecific and there 
are very few reliable risk factors. Therefore, two of the most 
important weapons against prostate cancer are education and timely 
testing.
  The American Cancer Society recommends that men 50 or over talk with 
their health care professionals about having annual exams and tests for 
prostate cancer and that African-American men and men with family 
histories of prostate cancer, who are at higher risk for the disease, 
should consider taking steps at an earlier age.
  This House, as an institution, and we, as Members of Congress, are in 
unique positions to support efforts against prostate cancer. This 
resolution expresses the sense of the House that, firstly, all men 
should take an active role in the fight against prostate cancer and by 
all the means that are available to them; secondly, that the role of 
national and community organizations and health care providers in 
promoting awareness of prostate cancer and in providing related 
information, support, and access to services should be recognized and 
applauded; and lastly, that the Federal Government has the 
responsibility to continue to raise awareness, fund research, and 
consider ways to improve access to and the quality of services for 
detecting and treating prostate cancer.
  I hope that all of my colleagues will join me today in supporting 
this resolution, working in our districts to get out the word, not only 
on Father's Day but every day, that prostate cancer is a killer. We 
need to educate. We need to talk to our doctors. Timely treatment is 
what counts.
  I urge support and adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Eshoo) who has been a real leader in the fight 
against breast and prostate cancer on the Subcommittee on Health and 
the Environment.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and good friend from 
Ohio (Mr. Brown) for yielding me the time.
  I want to first of all rise in support of this very important 
resolution and the intent that it carries. I would like to pay tribute 
to my colleague the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) and 
certainly the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) our subcommittee 
chairman, who are great supporters of this very good thing. So I want 
to salute them for that and thank them for bringing this resolution to 
the floor.
  After all, who amongst us can be opposed to something like this? We 
know the toll that cancer takes on the American people, most 
specifically, with men in this country.
  Yesterday we celebrated a magnificent holiday for our Nation's 
fathers. I certainly missed mine, who went to heaven about a year and a 
half ago. And as we bring this resolution to the floor around Father's 
Day, I also want to rise to speak about an issue that is important to 
mothers, fathers, families across this country; and that is breast and 
cervical cancer.
  When the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) and myself introduced a 
bill in the House, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Act, we made a pledge 
at that press conference that by Mother's Day our goal was to secure 
the majority of the House of Representatives in support of that 
legislation. Well, we not only did that. Mother's Day came and went. It 
passed. We now have 250 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle in 
support of this bill.
  I think it is very important that the House Committee on Commerce 
take this bill up in a hearing so that it can be examined. Because the 
majority of the members of the committee are cosponsors, including the 
gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) and the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Bilirakis) our subcommittee chairman.
  Now, why this bill? In 1999, the House of Representatives passed a 
very important and good piece of legislation. That piece of legislation 
directed the Center for Disease Control, the CDC, to conduct early 
screening for breast and cervical cancer. It has been a very successful 
program, but it stopped short of something. And that is, when detection 
takes place and cancer is discovered either in the cervix or the 
breast, we now say to American women they are on their own for 
treatment.
  This great Nation can do better than this. And so, the legislation 
moves beyond where we are now. It offers a carrot to the States where 
we offer more money in Medicaid for under-insured and uninsured women. 
We all have these constituents amongst us. We have heard their eloquent 
testimonies, very sad testimonies, too many of us.
  And so, I urge that all of the members of the House Committee on 
Commerce, most specifically our leadership, to schedule a hearing on 
this bill so that we can move forward and also to a markup. I think it 
is an important step for the women and the families of our Nation. By 
next Mother's Day, hopefully, we will have this legislation in law.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, more than anything else, I would like to say to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), through the Chair, that if her 
ears were ringing yesterday, it was because she was the subject of 
fairly lengthy conversations at the CDC in Atlanta, where the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and I and a number of staff members attended. 
Part of the discussion was involving the situation that she is trying 
to solve, and we asked a number of questions in that regard.
  As I have told the gentlewoman previously, I am committed to at least 
holding a hearing on this legislation in the very near future and, 
hopefully, get it on its way.
  Insofar as the managed care problem, which the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Brown) mentioned, the Patients Protection Act is moving. We are 
applying due diligence to the situation. I might add that the problem 
in managed care is not a new problem, it is a problem that existed for 
many, many years. And it is this particular Congress, along with the 
prior Congress, which is trying to solve the issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from New York (Mrs. Kelly).
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the prostate 
cancer awareness resolution and the Breast and Cervical Cancer 
Treatment Act.
  I commend my colleague from New Hampshire for bringing awareness to 
the fight against prostate cancer. Thirty-seven thousand men will die 
from prostate cancer this year, 2,400 in my State of New York alone. I 
applaud the efforts of the community organizations and health care 
providers in promoting awareness of and access to regular exams and 
testing. But, unfortunately, awareness is only half the battle. Once a 
cancer is diagnosed, it is perhaps even more cruel if it must go 
untreated. Yet this is a situation that thousands of people have had to 
face.
  Currently, the CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early 
Detection Program provides cancer screening services for low-income 
women who have little or no health insurance. Yet cruelly, after being 
diagnosed, these women have no means with which to get treatment. The 
Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act will give States the option to 
provide Medicaid coverage to these women. While Congress must continue 
to advocate cancer awareness, it cannot continue to promote screening 
and early detection without providing a means for treatment.
  I urge the leadership and Members of the Committee on Commerce to 
take action on the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act and for the 
House to pass the prostate cancer awareness resolution.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from California (Mrs. Capps), a nurse and a new member of the 
Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Ohio for yielding 
me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution on prostate cancer. 
But I also want to take a moment to speak on the Breast and Cervical 
Cancer Treatment Act.
  As a nurse, I am very concerned about prostate cancer and I am glad

[[Page H4680]]

that we are raising awareness of this serious disease which kills 
approximately 40,000 men a year in this country. I thank the chair and 
the leadership of our Subcommittee on Health and the Environment the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for introducing this resolution, 
which I wholeheartedly support. Yet, I am very disappointed that the 
Committee on Commerce has yet to address the Breast and Cervical 
Treatment Act.
  This bill, introduced by my colleagues the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Eshoo) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), 
currently has 250 sponsors. The majority of the House of 
Representatives support the enactment of this treatment bill. And yet 
we see no plans for floor action in sight.
  Here to my right on the screen my colleagues will see the list of 
agencies and groups, strong groups in this country, health groups, who 
support this legislation being enacted. These are our constituents 
across the country. They want us to move ahead on this legislation, and 
we need to pay heed to their strong recommendation.
  The Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act gives States the option 
to provide Medicaid coverage to uninsured or under-insured women who 
have already been diagnosed through our National Breast and Cervical 
Cancer Early Detection Program. But once they have this wrenching 
diagnosis, they have nowhere to turn for treatment. All the screening 
in the world will not help if women who are diagnosed with this disease 
do not have access to quality treatment for their condition.
  Just a few minutes ago, I was visited in my offices here by a dozen 
or so representatives of the AAUW, the American Association of 
University Women, who are here on the Hill today talking about their 
issues. And my group was here from Atascadero in San Luis Obispo 
County.
  I told them what I was going to be speaking about on the floor, and 
they said, yes, we have friends, we have people in our community for 
whom this fact is a reality, women diagnosed with no place to turn for 
treatment.
  With 250 bipartisan cosponsors of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Act, 
we need in this House to take action now. We have a chance today to 
help millions of men with prostate cancer. I support this opportunity 
and thank our House for taking the lead here to do this.
  Let us also take the opportunity to do more than resolve, to actually 
help survivors of breast and cervical cancer, as well.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.Res. 211, to raise public 
awareness of prostate cancer. I want to thank the gentleman from New 
Hampshire (Mr. Bass) the introducer of this resolution. I am an 
original cosponsor of this legislation.
  Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. One out of 
every five men will develop prostate cancer at some point during his 
life. As a matter of fact, I have two brothers who have prostate 
cancer. And there are many parallels between prostate cancer in men and 
breast cancer in women. Like breast cancer in women, the risk of having 
prostate cancer increases with age.
  The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 180,000 new cases 
of prostate cancer and 175,000 new cases of breast cancer will be 
diagnosed in 1999. Prostate cancer kills about 37,000 men each year, 
and breast cancer kills over 46,000 women. Prostate cancer is the 
second leading cause of cancer death in men, and breast cancer is the 
second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer.
  Recently, I attended the opening of an expanded Department of Defense 
Prostate Cancer Research Center in Rockville, Maryland. This research 
facility will work in conjunction with the National Institutes of 
Health in nearby Bethesda, Maryland. I am proud that this premier 
research corridor looking into the prevention, early detection, and 
cure for prostate cancer is in my congressional district.
  I want to take a moment also to highlight another important piece of 
legislation, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, H.R. 1070. 
This bill would amend the Social Security Act to give States the option 
of expanding medical assistance coverage to include women screened and 
found to have breast or cervical cancer. It has over 249 cosponsors. 
Yet, we have not had any further action scheduled on this important 
legislation.
  I agree with the men's prostate cancer support group called, ``Us 
Too!'' I must say, I am also part of a support group calling for 
consideration both in committee and on the House Floor for H.R. 1070, 
we could say, ``H.R. 1070, too!''
  I reiterate my support for H.Res. 211. And I compliment again my 
colleague the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) for his 
leadership and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) the 
subcommittee chairman for bringing this bill on the floor today.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Lantos).
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for yielding me 
this time.
  I rise to congratulate and commend all of my colleagues on both sides 
of the aisle who have played a leadership role on this issue. But I 
would like to go beyond commending them, to commend three individuals 
who have done extraordinarily important things on behalf of this cause 
of fighting prostate cancer: General Schwarzkopf, the hero of the 
Persian Gulf War, Senator Bob Dole, and philanthropist Michael Milken. 
Mr. Milken, through his Cap Cure Foundation, has devoted untold 
resources and unimaginable energy to dealing with prostate cancer, and 
I am proud to publicly recognize his significant contribution.
  I would also like to associate myself with the comments of my 
colleagues from California (Ms. Eschoo and Ms. Capps) who talked of 
breast and cervical cancer problems. As we deal with prostate cancer, I 
think we have a moral obligation to deal with the issue of breast and 
cervical cancer.
  I call on all of my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to deal with 
both of these critical health issues affecting millions of American 
families.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution, which is 
designed to raise public awareness of prostate cancer. Prevention, 
access to health care, awareness, early detection, all of these are 
ingredients which help save lives.
  Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among American 
men, causing over 39,000 deaths a year. Unfortunately for African 
American men, prostate cancer rates are the highest in the world. In 
the last 5 years, the death rate for prostate cancer has more than 
doubled the death rate of breast cancer, which is extremely high and 
must be acted upon immediately. Unfortunately for African American 
males, this is one of the most deadly diseases in the world.
  I want to take this opportunity to thank those churches, community 
organizations and other groups in my district who have been promoting 
awareness by putting into their Sunday bulletins messages about men 
getting checkups and physicals and going to the doctor.
  My father is 88 years old, recently diagnosed a few years ago with 
prostate cancer, but is a survivor and is alive because of the early 
detection.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge that we support these two measures.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Traficant).
  (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, if you reach age 40, the statistics in 
America are quite clear. You will live to be a wise senior citizen if 
you can avoid the two big takers of life, heart attack and cancer. We 
fund many issues. Some of them are highly sensationalized, with

[[Page H4681]]

 much press and hype. But I say it is time to wage an all-out war on 
cancer. It is overdue, and it must, in fact, involve all our efforts.
  I want to applaud the efforts of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis) here today, one of the fine chairmen in the House. His heart 
is in the right place. He has worked very hard on this. I want to 
compliment the distinguished gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) 
for his leadership, and I want to compliment my neighbor, the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Brown), for his work on health-related issues.
  I would also like to advise the Congress to support and work with the 
efforts of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Brown). The health-related issues facing this Congress 
are some of the most important issues facing the American people. I 
urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) be permitted to control the 
remainder of my time for consideration of this legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Hill).
  Mr. HILL of Indiana. I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of this resolution. Prostate 
cancer comes in four stages. Approximately 6 years ago, my then 51-
year-old brother went to the doctor because he was having problems. He 
found that he was in stage four of prostate cancer. Still we did not 
give up hope. Still we prayed a lot, held hands a lot, talked a lot. 
But in the final end, he did not make it, and he died. He died a very 
horrible and agonizing death. I will never forget it as long as I live. 
It has affected me dramatically.
  I hope my brother's pain and suffering does not go in vain, because 
today I have the opportunity to evoke his name and support this 
resolution, and hopefully all that pain and suffering, if we can save 
at least one life in America through this resolution or through this 
speech, if we can just save one life in America because of this 
resolution today, the meaninglessness and pointlessness of his pain and 
suffering will not go in vain.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Texas Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Ohio for yielding me this time.
  I thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) and the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for their leadership and the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for his leadership.
  I am not a member of the committee of jurisdiction, but I come to the 
floor with a personal commentary to support the passage of this 
resolution dealing with prostate cancer and the enhanced opportunities 
to educate the American public and men about the dangers and the 
devastation of prostate cancer. I lost my father 3 years ago to 
prostate cancer. I will always be reminded of the fact that his life 
was shortened because of lack of early detection and education about 
this devastating disease.
  There are an estimated 179,300 new cases of prostate cancer this 
year, and prostate cancer rates for African American men are 
significantly higher than the rates for white men. African American men 
have higher incidences of prostate cancer than any other ethnic group 
in the world since the disease is rare in Asia, Africa and South 
America.
  The incidence of prostate cancer increases as men age. More than 75 
percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over 65. Men over 
age 50 should have tests done every year. And, of course, African 
American men should be tested at an even earlier age.
  I serve on M.D. Anderson Hospital's prostate cancer advisory 
committee, and I would say that the best celebration and commemoration 
we could give to our fathers across the land no matter what their 
ethnic background is to encourage them to get early testing and to not 
be afraid to go to the doctors.
  I also support the passage, if you will, of the Breast and Cervical 
Cancer Treatment Act. I believe that as we fight the deadly disease of 
cancer, there can be no excessive amount of legislation that deals with 
these devastating diseases. I would offer my support for the resolution 
dealing with prostate cancer. I would ask all my colleagues to heartily 
support us in our fight to end this deadly disease.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with the men of this House to urge 
public awareness of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most 
common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death. 
Education and regular testing are crucial to survival because prostate 
cancer can be treated successfully if it is found early.
  I support this resolution today because it expresses our sense that 
public awareness, regular testing, early detection and treatment are 
critical to survival.
  There are an estimated 179,300 new cases of prostate cancer this 
year. Prostate cancer rates for African American men are significantly 
higher than the rates for white men. African American men have higher 
incidences of prostate cancer than any other ethnic group in the world 
since this disease is rare in Asia, African and South America. My 
father who I loved dearly, Ezra Jackson, died three years ago from 
prostate cancer. My uncle died of the disease as well. We should be 
diligent in helping all men to learn about the disease and get early 
testing. This resolution will help some live.
  The incidence of prostate cancer increases as men age--more than 75% 
of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over 65. Thus, it is 
crucial for men to have regular checkups for early detection. Men over 
age 50 should have tests done every year. African American men should 
be tested at an even earlier age.
  The federal government has an important role to play in raising 
public awareness about this disease. We must continue to support 
research and treatment efforts to improve the chances of survival for 
men diagnosed with prostate cancer. We should also encourage more 
efforts to improve access to care for men, particularly low-income, 
traditionally underserved patients.
  I support these efforts to battle this deadly disease. Prostate 
cancer will kill 37,000 American men this year. I hope that through the 
collective resources of the federal government, local and community 
health services, and through public awareness and education, we can one 
day refer to this disease in the past tense. Finally, Mr. Speaker I 
hope we will also move to the floor H.R. 1070, the Breast and Cervical 
Cancer Treatment Act--which will also help to save lives--the many 
women who have or will suffer from this dreadful disease.

       New Cases: An estimated 179,300 new cases in the US during 
     1999. Prostate cancer incidence rates remain significantly 
     higher in African-American men than in white men. Between 
     1989 and 1992, prostate cancer incidence rates increased 
     dramatically, probably due to earlier diagnosis in men 
     without any symptoms, by increased use of prostate-specific 
     antigen (PSA) blood test screenings. Between 1993 and 1995, 
     prostate cancer incidence rates declined, primarily among 
     white men.
       Deaths: An estimated 37,000 deaths in 1999, the second 
     leading cause of cancer death in men. During 1991-1995, 
     prostate cancer mortality rates declined significantly (-1.6% 
     per year). Like the decreasing trends in incidence, the 
     trends in mortality occurred primarily among white men. 
     Mortality rates in African-American men remain more than 
     twice as high as rates in white men.
       Signs and Symptoms: Weak or interrupted urine flow; 
     inability to urinate, or difficulty starting or stopping the 
     urine flow; the need to urinate frequently, especially at 
     night; blood in the urine; pain or burning on urination; 
     continuing pain in lower back, pelvis, or upper thighs. Most 
     of these symptoms are nonspecific and may be similar to those 
     caused by benign conditions such as infection or prostate 
     enlargement.
       Risk Factors: The incidence of prostate cancer increases 
     with age; more than 75% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed 
     in men over age 65. African Americans have the highest 
     prostate cancer incidence rates in the world; the disease is 
     common in North America and Northwestern Europe and is rare 
     in Asia, Africa, and South America. Recent genetic studies 
     suggest that an inherited predisposition may be responsible 
     for 5%-10% of prostate cancers. International studies suggest 
     that dietary fat may also be a factor.
       Early Detection: Men age 50 and older who have at least a 
     10-year life expectancy should talk with their health care 
     professional about having a digital rectal exam of the 
     prostate gland and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood 
     test every year. Men who are at high risk for prostate cancer 
     (African Americans or men who have a history of prostate 
     cancer in close family members) should consider beginning 
     these tests at an earlier age.
       Treatment: Depending on age, stage of the cancer, and other 
     medical conditions of the patient, surgery and radiation 
     should be discussed with the patient's physicians. Hormones 
     and chemotherapy or combinations of

[[Page H4682]]

     these options might be considered for metastatic disease. 
     Hormone treatment may control prostate cancer for long 
     periods by shrinking the size of the tumor, thus relieving 
     pain. Careful observation without immediate active treatment 
     (``watchful waiting'') may be appropriate, particularly for 
     older individuals with low-grade and/or early stage tumors.
       Survival: Sixty percent of all prostate cancers are 
     discovered while still localized; the 5-year relative 
     survival rate for patients whose tumors are diagnosed at this 
     stage is 100%. Over the past 20 years, the survival rate for 
     all stages combined has increased from 67% to 93%. Survival 
     after a diagnosis of prostate cancer continues to decline 
     beyond five years. According to the most recent data, 68% of 
     men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive 10 years and 52% 
     survive 15 years.

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I appreciate the debate today and appreciate the good efforts of the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) on that side and the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Capps), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Traficant), the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill), the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
on my side.
  I especially ask this House with bipartisan cooperation to pass H. 
Res. 211 but also move forward on the Prescription Drug Fairness Act, 
on the Patients' Bill of Rights, and on the Breast and Cervical Cancer 
Act. If we could accomplish those health care issues this year, this 
will have been a very successful Congress.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Res. 211, I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution which 
expressed the sense of the Congress regarding the importance of raising 
public awareness about prostate cancer.
  Prostate cancer is one of the most serious health issues facing men. 
One in five men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. According 
to the National Institutes of Health, this year nearly 185,000 men will 
be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 39,000 men will die. Prostate 
cancer is the most common type of cancer among men, and the second 
leading cause of cancer death in men. The most important thing to know 
about prostate cancer is that it can be treated successfully if 
detected early.
  As you know, my predecessor, the late Congressman Dean Gallo died of 
prostate cancer in 1994, having been diagnosed late in his disease. 
Dean was a fighter for New Jersey but sadly he could not fight prostate 
cancer successfully. Despite Dean's death his memory lives on in the 
Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at the Cancer Institute of 
New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, New Jersey is 17th among all 50 states in the 
incidence of prostate cancer and 8th among African Americans.
  Congress has declared a war on cancer, in any of its forms, and we 
must continue to provide the bullets to fight this war in our 
dedication to raising awareness about cancer, and the commitment to 
increase funding for cancer research.
  Remember, prostate cancer may kill, but it does not have to. Early 
detection can save a life. I say to all men, see your doctor for a 
prostate examination today; take a P.S.A. annually.
  Mr. Speaker, I think my good friend from New Hampshire, Mr. Bass, for 
introducing this important resolution.
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 
211, a sense of the Congress on Raising Awareness of Prostate Cancer.
  One out of every five men is at lifetime risk for prostate cancer. 
While about every third male over age 50 probably already has prostate 
cancer in some form and does not know it; roughly one-quarter of those 
who are stricken, will get a life-threatening form of the disease.
  Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men 
(after lung cancer) and, excluding skin cancer, is the most common 
cancer in American men. Early prostate cancer often does not cause 
symptoms, and most people find out about their prostate cancer too 
late, even though the cancer can be detected in most case with a 
simple, inexpensive blood test.
  While the American Cancer Society and several other groups recommend 
that every man over age 50 get tested once a year, and General 
Schwarzkopf, a man who has undergone prostate surgery, said prostate 
cancer testing saved his life. Society still talks about prostate 
cancer after the fact rather than talking about the test that could 
quickly arrest prostate cancer in the early beginning.
  The disease touches the lives of millions of men and their families, 
yet myths and misunderstandings about prostate cancer remain common.
  Learning about prostate cancer, who's at risk and how to fight it is 
a crucial first step in overcoming this problem. The more you know 
about Prostate Cancer, the better equipped you are to fight it.
  We are here today, to end the public embarrassment about prostate 
cancer and begin the process of making men more aware of what this 
disease can do and what they must do to protect themselves. Too many 
men have died because they made the mistake of ignoring the devastating 
effect of prostate cancer.
  Today we can start turning the tide. Support this resolution.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and 
commend the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, 
Mr. Bilirakis, and the ranking member, Mr. Brown, for bringing this 
resolution before the House today.
  No one can doubt the value of increasing public awareness of prostate 
cancer. Screening and testing can lead to early detection and effective 
treatment of this all-too-common form of cancer.
  But while I strongly support this resolution, I cannot help but note 
the contrast between our eagerness to act here--even without committee 
consideration--with the failure of our committee to consider another 
important piece of legislation, a very reasonable and broadly supported 
bill to provide the option of Medicaid treatment for low-income women 
with breast cancer.
  I am proud to be one of nearly 250 cosponsors of H.R. 1070. This bill 
was introduced by Congressman Lazio and Congresswoman Eshoo to remedy 
the inexcusable situation we have now, where we screen low-income women 
for breast cancer, but then are unable to provide timely treatment when 
the condition is discovered.
  This legislation provides States the option to provide that treatment 
under Medicaid.
  It is a bill that has broad support, both inside and outside the 
Congress. Yet we have held no hearings on this bill in subcommittee. We 
have no schedule to mark it up.
  If we did act to bring this bill to the House floor, I feel certain 
it would enjoy the same broad support as the resolution we have before 
us today.
  So while I commend Mr. Bilirakis for his efforts on the prostate 
cancer resolution, I also hope we will soon again be on this House 
floor discussing the imminent passage of H.R. 1070. The women of 
America suffering from breast cancer deserve no less.

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for H. 
Res. 211, which underscores our nation's support for prostate cancer 
research and testing. All too often, men and their families remain 
silent about this deadly disease, which will claim the lies of an 
estimated 37,000 individuals this year alone.
  It is critical that our nation starts to talk about prostate cancer 
in order to increase our awareness about early testing and treatment 
options. We in the Congress took an important step in fighting this 
condition by providing Medicare coverage for the prostate specific 
antigen blood test (PSA) and the digital rectal exam (DRE). I, along 
with a bipartisan group of House members recently urged HCFA to 
implement coverage for these procedures in the most timely manner 
possible. By providing this critical coverage, we can save the lives of 
thousands of men, while saving Medicare a substantial amount of 
funding.
  We can also provide real hope for the 180,000 men who are estimated 
to be diagnosed with prostate cancer by investing in research. We still 
have a long way to go before we really understand the risk factors 
associated with the disease. It is my hope that the National Institutes 
of Health and other Federal agencies will continue their groundbreaking 
research into this disease.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
resolution, which clearly states our commitment to treating and 
eventually curing this terrible disease.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 211.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.




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