[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

  The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution (S. Res. 138) 
designating the month of September as ``National Prostate Cancer 
Awareness Month,'' which was reported from the Committee on the 
Judiciary with an amendment, as follows:
  [Insert the part printed in italic.]

                              S. Res. 138

       Whereas over 1,000,000 American families live with prostate 
     cancer;
       Whereas 1 American man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate 
     cancer in his lifetime;
       Whereas prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed 
     nonskin cancer and the second most common cancer killer of 
     American men;
       Whereas 198,100 American men will be diagnosed with 
     prostate cancer and 31,500 American men will die of prostate 
     cancer in 2001, according to American Cancer Society 
     estimates;
       Whereas fully \1/4\ of new cases of prostate cancer occur 
     in men during their prime working years;
       Whereas African Americans have the highest incidence and 
     mortality rates of prostate cancer in the world;
       Whereas screening by both digit rectal examination and 
     prostate specific antigen blood test (PSA) can diagnose the 
     disease in earlier and more treatable stages and have reduced 
     prostate cancer mortality;
       Whereas the research pipeline promises further improvements 
     in prostate cancer prevention, early detection, and 
     treatments; and
       Whereas educating Americans, including health care 
     providers, about prostate cancer and early detection 
     strategies is crucial to saving men's lives and preserving 
     and protecting our families: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of September as ``National 
     Prostate Cancer Awareness Month'';
       (2) declares that the Federal Government has a 
     responsibility--
       (A) to raise awareness about the importance of screening 
     methods and treatment of prostate cancer;
       (B) to increase research funding that is commensurate with 
     the burden of the disease so that the causes of, and improved 
     screening, treatments, and a cure for, prostate cancer may be 
     discovered; and
       (C) to continue to consider ways for improving access to, 
     and the quality of, health care services for detecting and 
     treating prostate cancer; and
       (3) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     upon the people of the United States, interested groups, and 
     affected persons to promote awareness of prostate cancer, to 
     take an active role in the fight to end the devastating 
     effects of prostate cancer on individuals, their families, 
     and the economy and to observe the month of September 2001 
     with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``Resolution designating the 
     month of September 2001 as `National Prostate Cancer 
     Awareness Month'.''.
  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 138), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The title amendment was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 138

       Whereas over 1,000,000 American families live with prostate 
     cancer;
       Whereas 1 American man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate 
     cancer in his lifetime;
       Whereas prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed 
     nonskin cancer and the second most common cancer killer of 
     American men;
       Whereas 198,100 American men will be diagnosed with 
     prostate cancer and 31,500 American men will die of prostate 
     cancer in 2001, according to American Cancer Society 
     estimates;
       Whereas fully \1/4\ of new cases of prostate cancer occur 
     in men during their prime working years;
       Whereas African Americans have the highest incidence and 
     mortality rates of prostate cancer in the world;
       Whereas screening by both digit rectal examination and 
     prostate specific antigen blood test (PSA) can diagnose the 
     disease in earlier and more treatable stages and have reduced 
     prostate cancer mortality;
       Whereas the research pipeline promises further improvements 
     in prostate cancer prevention, early detection, and 
     treatments; and
       Whereas educating Americans, including health care 
     providers, about prostate cancer and early detection 
     strategies is crucial to saving men's lives and preserving 
     and protecting our families: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of September 2001 as ``National 
     Prostate Cancer Awareness Month'';
       (2) declares that the Federal Government has a 
     responsibility--
       (A) to raise awareness about the importance of screening 
     methods and treatment of prostate cancer;
       (B) to increase research funding that is commensurate with 
     the burden of the disease so that the causes of, and improved 
     screening, treatments, and a cure for, prostate cancer may be 
     discovered; and
       (C) to continue to consider ways for improving access to, 
     and the quality of, health care services for detecting and 
     treating prostate cancer; and
       (3) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     upon the people of the United States, interested groups, and 
     affected persons to promote awareness of prostate cancer, to 
     take an active role in the fight to end the devastating 
     effects of prostate cancer on individuals, their families, 
     and the economy and to observe the month of September 2001 
     with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``Resolution designating the 
     month of September 2001 as `National Prostate Cancer 
     Awareness Month'.''.

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