[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 121 (Tuesday, October 3, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H8686-H8688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING SEVERITY OF DISEASE OF COLON CANCER

  Mrs. CUBIN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 133) recognizing the severity 
of the disease of colon cancer, the preventable nature of the disease, 
and the need for education in the areas of prevention and early 
detection, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 133

       Whereas colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of 
     cancer deaths in the United States for men and women 
     combined;
       Whereas it is estimated that in 1999, 129,400 new cases of 
     colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in men and women in the 
     United States;
       Whereas the disease is expected to kill 56,600 individuals 
     in this country in 1999;
       Whereas adopting a healthy diet at a young age can 
     significantly reduce the risk of developing colorectal 
     cancer;
       Whereas research has shown that a high fiber, low fat diet, 
     with minimal amounts of red meat and maximum amounts of 
     fruits and vegetables, can significantly reduce the risk of 
     developing colorectal cancer;
       Whereas colorectal cancer is increasingly diagnosed in 
     individuals below age 50;
       Whereas regular screenings can save large numbers of lives;
       Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 
     Health Care Financing Administration, and the National Cancer 
     Institute have initiated the Screen for Life Campaign, 
     targeted at individuals age 50 and older, to spread the 
     message of the importance of colorectal cancer screening 
     tests; and
       Whereas education can help inform the public of methods of 
     prevention and symptoms of early detection: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes--
       (A) the severity of the issue of colorectal cancer;
       (B) the preventable nature of the disease;
       (C) the importance of the Screen for Life Campaign; and
       (2) calls on health educators, elected officials, and the 
     people of the United States--
       (A) to broaden the message of the Screen for Life Campaign 
     to reach all individuals; and
       (B) to learn about colorectal cancer and its preventive 
     nature, and learn to recognize the risk factors and symptoms 
     which enable early detection and treatment.

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


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CUBIN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 
133, now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Wyoming?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CUBIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such times as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 133, 
which recognizes the importance of preventing deaths from colorectal 
cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer 
deaths in the United States. About 56,500 people die from colorectal 
cancer each year in the United States. The chance of cure is clearly 
related to the stage of the disease. Early cancers have an excellent 
prognosis, while advanced cancers have a poor prognosis.
  Often, colorectal cancer does not give any symptoms until rather late 
in the disease. I have been touched personally by this disease, having 
lost a dear friend to the disease, when had it been diagnosed earlier, 
surely it would have been curable. By screening for colorectal cancer, 
cancers can be detected at a very early stage, when they are clearly 
curable.
  Several studies have shown that screening for colorectal cancer by 
checking for blood in the stools reduces death in these cancer patients 
by 15 to 30 percent. Screening for colorectal cancer is now recommended 
in the United States for all people over 50 years or older without any 
symptoms of colorectal disease and no other risk factors.
  Colorectal cancer screening is an area in which the House Committee 
on Commerce has been very active. Under changes made in 1997, the 
Medicare program authorized coverage of and established frequency 
limits for colorectal cancer screening tests. As a part of our work 
with the House leadership in coming up with a Medicare package we can 
all be proud of, the Committee on Commerce reported out provisions in 
H.R. 5291, the Beneficiary Improvement and Protection Act, that would 
give consumers more choices and control in the kind of colorectal 
cancer screening services they can choose. The provision would permit 
an individual to elect to receive a screening colonoscopy, which is 
more expensive but more thorough, instead of a screening sigmoidoscopy.
  There are many other fine provisions in H.R. 5291 that would go a 
long way to improving the life for those Americans on Medicare facing 
an uncertain future of colorectal cancer.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the cosponsors of House Concurrent Resolution 
133 for their leadership on this issue and in cancer awareness in 
general, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution on the floor 
today.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, colon and rectal cancers are the second leading cause 
of cancer-related deaths in the United States. This year alone, more 
than 130,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer and 
colorectal cancer. Ninety percent of these cancers occur in people over 
the age of 50. Six percent of people age 75 to 80 have had colorectal 
cancer at some point in their life; one out of 16.
  The good news is that the odds of beating colorectal cancer go up 
significantly with early detection. With that in mind, the American 
Cancer Society recently updated its screening guidelines to increase 
early detection. In addition, Medicare has expanded coverage of 
screening tests.
  It is hoped these changes, along with new screening methods being 
tested,

[[Page H8687]]

will prompt more people to talk with their doctor about screening. 
These are positive steps, but we clearly have more to do. In many ways 
we are just starting to spread the word about colon cancer.
  Madam Speaker, I fully support passage of this resolution. I thank 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) for his good work on this 
resolution, and this resolution affirms our commitment to fight this 
disease until we eliminate it.
  At the same time, while this Congress again today passes a resolution 
exhorting people to get tested, exhorting early detection and education 
and all the things that we need to do, this Congress has again failed 
to pass prescription drug legislation; it has again failed to pass Ryan 
White; it has again failed to pass a Patient's Bill of Rights, and 
failed to provide funding for breast and cervical treatment, precancer 
treatment, which is a cruel hoax on those without insurance who have 
been tested and screened for breast and cervical cancer and, where it 
has been detected that they actually have cancer, there is no money for 
the actual treatment.
  Madam Speaker, I support H. Con. Res. 133; and I urge its adoption.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CUBIN. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus).
  Mr. BACHUS. Madam Speaker, we use a lot of figures; we talk about 
millions of people, we talk about a half million people dying. I want 
to talk about a city of 100,000 people. In a city of 100,000 people, 50 
people this year will develop colorectal cancer. Now, of those people, 
most all of them, if not all of them, have precancerous growths or 
polyps, and those polyps are in their rectum or colon, what we used to 
call the large bowel, for some time. Many years. In fact, I was 
examined and they found a polyp and they removed the polyp.
  Now, there are screening tests available today where these 
precancerous growths can be found. They are very simple tests. One is 
an occult blood test, which finds microscopic blood, and they can 
easily be found. And if an individual is screened, and if these polyps 
are found, they can easily be removed and it reduces the chances of 
getting colorectal cancer by 90 percent. The national polyp study 
showed that.
  So our first defense against this disease that costs so many lives is 
simply that people over the age of 50, all our citizens, should go in 
and discuss with their doctors screening.

                              {time}  1715

  Their chances will be reduced immediately by 90 percent of even 
developing a small tumor. But let us just suppose that these 50 out of 
100,000 people that would have developed cancer do not go in. If they 
do not go in and they do develop a small tumor, still when they begin 
having symptoms, and let me stress that in the early stages, there are 
no symptoms that are detectable. So you cannot rely on waiting around 
for symptoms to develop. That is why we need screening, and that is why 
everyone over the age of 50 ought to have screening.
  But suppose that they are not screened. Suppose they develop a small 
tumor. Then there are two things that happen. They have a discharge of 
blood, and it can be something that can be seen but oftentimes it is 
microscopic. They also have a change in their bowel movements or their 
bowel habits, diarrhea, constipation, change in frequency, change in 
size. These are early warning signs. Unfortunately in this country even 
when people detect blood in their stool, even when they have a change 
of bowel habits, they often do not do anything. They are not screened.
  Now, let us suppose that they immediately respond; they go to their 
doctor, and there is a small growth there. They quickly go in. If they 
are fortunate to have caught it in that stage and responded immediately 
and it is still a small growth, their chances of surviving are still 
above 90 percent. But, sadly, all too often even when there are all 
sorts of signs, people do not do that. And in the second stage, their 
chances of survival are only 75 percent. And in the later stages only 5 
percent. It is so important that we receive screening to prevent even 
the development of cancer as in my case, or the early treatment. 
Unfortunately, people that wait too long, even those that survive, 
often have a change in their bowel or their bladder functions or in 
their sexual functions by simply waiting too long, or by failing to 
have these simple tests that cost very little and can be performed in a 
doctor's office.
  I commend those who brought this resolution. I am glad to join as a 
cosponsor. I simply say to Americans out there over the age of 50, you 
are at risk for developing colorectal cancer; but it can be prevented, 
and it can be treated. It just depends on every person and every 
family's commitment to responding, to taking these tests which are 
available. And it was so important that this Congress made available to 
our citizens the right to protect their health and to protect their 
bodies and to preserve their health by providing this service.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Moran).
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague 
and friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), and the gentlewoman 
from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) and my cosponsor of the resolution, the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), and the other cosponsors as well. 
I also want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley) for 
letting this come up on the floor today.
  H. Con. Res. 133 recognizes the severity of the disease of colon 
cancer, the preventable nature of the disease and the need for 
education in the areas of prevention and early detection. The 
consideration of this resolution comes in time for a very special event 
which will occur this Sunday, October 8, on the mall in Washington. I 
am speaking of the first-ever 5K WebMD Rock 'n Race to Fight Colon 
Cancer. Katie Couric, who suffered the loss of her husband to this 
disease, is the founder of this event. This walk will bring together 
people from across the country who want to show their support for 
victims, survivors, family members, and friends who have been touched 
by colon cancer.
  Colon cancer is the number two cause of cancer death for both men and 
women combined. However, it is also one of the most preventable of 
cancers. In fact, when detected early, colon cancer is 90 percent 
curable. In the United States, as the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Bachus) said, more than 130,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are 
expected to be diagnosed and about 56,300 people will die from the 
disease this year. I guess that was the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) 
that shared those statistics with us and those are absolutely accurate.
  Many people are not aware of the prevalence and seriousness of 
colorectal cancer in men and women because the issue has not been 
freely discussed. Colorectal cancer is highly preventable through 
primary prevention strategies, such as diet, nutrition and exercise. In 
fact, adopting a healthy diet at a young age can significantly reduce 
the risk of even developing colorectal cancer at any point in your 
life. Research has shown that a high-fiber, low-fat diet with minimal 
amounts of red meat and maximum amounts of fruits and vegetables can 
significantly reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
  In addition to a healthy diet, regular screenings can save many of 
these lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health 
Care Financing Administration, the National Cancer Institute, have 
initiated a Screen for Life campaign targeted at individuals age 50 and 
older to spread the message of the importance of colorectal cancer 
screening tests. We need to broaden the message of this Screen for Life 
campaign to reach all individuals and to save many of their lives.
  As of today, 41 bipartisan Members have cosponsored this resolution 
which seeks to raise awareness of colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is a 
preventable disease. Colon cancer is a treatable disease. We need to at 
least do our part in spreading this message by passing this resolution.
  I thank my colleagues for the opportunity to consider H. Con. Res. 
133. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution and to 
join their constituents who will be coming to

[[Page H8688]]

Washington this weekend for the WebMD Rock 'n Race.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CUBIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The subject that H. Con. Res. 133 addresses is not a pleasant issue 
to discuss, but something that is much, much, much less pleasant, which 
is horrible, in fact, is to be notified that someone you love has 
colorectal cancer and had they been diagnosed earlier, had they gone in 
earlier, it would have been curable but now it is not.
  I think generally men have a harder time dealing with issues like 
this, and so I would like to really express my thanks to the gentlemen 
here today who have brought this issue up and have spoken on behalf of 
it, because it is a disease that is curable in most cases. I truly 
thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Moran), and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) for their 
leadership on behalf of men and women as well.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Morella). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 133.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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