[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 65 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2632-H2633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT CONTINUAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INTO 
             CAUSE AND CURE FOR FIBROID CANCER BE ADDRESSED

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 165) expressing the sense of 
the Congress that continual research and education into the cause and 
cure for fibroid cancer be addressed.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 165

       Whereas the vast majority of fibroids occur in women of 
     reproductive age, and between 20 and 40 percent of women are 
     diagnosed;
       Whereas African American women are twice as likely to be 
     diagnosed with fibroids than Caucasian women;
       Whereas fibroids are the most frequently diagnosed tumor of 
     the female pelvis and range in size from 1mm to more than 
     20cm (8 inches) in diameter;
       Whereas they are not associated with cancer and almost 
     never develop into cancer (less than one percent becoming 
     malignant);
       Whereas the symptoms of fibroids can include excessive 
     bleeding during menstrual periods, spotting or bleeding 
     between periods, frequent urination, and/or lower back pain;
       Whereas the preferred method of treatment for fibroids is a 
     hysterectomy, which is the complete removal of the uterus, 
     leaving the woman unable to bear children for the rest of her 
     life;
       Whereas diets rich in fatty foods have been a contributing 
     factor to an increased risk in fibroid tumors;
       Whereas there are alternative methods to a hysterectomy 
     available, but they are less permanent, and have menopausal 
     symptoms;
       Whereas, in cases of hormonal treatment, the fibroids will 
     regrow should the treatment cease; and
       Whereas research conducted by the National Institute of 
     Environmental Health indicated that while estrogen and 
     progesterone are contributing factors, fibroids can be 
     targeted by environmental chemicals whose effects are 
     mediated through the estrogen and/or progesterone receptors: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That--
       (1) the Congress recognizes the health and educational 
     needs of women in the United States who may be suffering from 
     fibroids;
       (2) it is the sense of the Congress that the medical 
     community should explore alternatives to hysterectomies in 
     greater detail, so that women who choose to bear children in 
     their lives may do so, while eliminating recurring fibroids; 
     and
       (3) the Congress--
       (A) encourages women to pay greater attention to their 
     reproductive health by making regular visits to their OB/
     GYNs; and
       (B) encourages women and their physicians to know all safe 
     options available for the prevention and cure of fibroids.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Millender-McDonald) 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 and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution.
  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, today I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 165, which 
expresses the sense of the Congress that research and education on 
fibroid tumors be increased. This resolution was unanimously approved 
by the full Committee on Energy and Commerce on April 24. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution, which will help 
place a much-needed focus on fibroid tumors and their prevention.
  As a firm believer in prevention, I am pleased that this resolution 
places such an emphasis on providing women with the information they 
need to make smart decisions about their health. For example, fibroid 
tumors are linked to diets rich in fatty foods. Women need this 
important information so they can modify their eating habits to reduce 
their risks of developing fibroid tumors.
  The vast majority of fibroid tumors occur in women of reproductive 
age. Today, a hysterectomy is the most common treatment for women with 
fibroid tumors. This procedure has devastating consequences for women 
as they are unable to have children, as we know, after a hysterectomy.
  The resolution calls on the medical community to explore alternatives 
to hysterectomies for the treatment of fibroid tumors. We must focus 
research efforts on the development of alternative therapies that will 
increase the treatment options for women. Therapeutic advances are the 
surest way to enable women to receive care and preserve their ability 
to bear children.
  I would like to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-
McDonald) for her good work on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to 
support H. Con. Res. 165.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD.. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that today the House is considering my 
bill, H. Con. Res. 165, which deals with uterine fibroid tumors. I want 
to express my gratitude to the House leadership and to the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis) of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee 
on Health.
  My thanks also to the ranking members, the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Dingell) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and my dear 
friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), for their efforts 
to bring this measure to the floor for consideration.
  I also want to recognize the respective majority and minority 
committee professional staff for their work.
  This resolution, Mr. Speaker, expresses a sense of Congress that 
continual research and education must be directed to the causes and 
cures for noncancerous uterine fibroid tumors. These tumors afflict 
women of reproductive age and affect African-American women 2 to 3 
times more frequently than other women. Although the tumors are usually 
benign, they are quite painful, troublesome and dangerous, depending 
upon their size and their location.
  It has been estimated that 20 to 30 percent of women experience 
fibroid tumors, even though many of the cases

[[Page H2633]]

are not diagnosed. Although these tumors can be quite small, they can 
multiply and cause great physical discomfort. For many years a surgical 
procedure known as a hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus, has been 
used to eliminate the tumors. This surgery unfortunately also 
eliminates a woman's ability to have children. Therefore, it is 
imperative that women become more educated about the nature of fibroid 
uterine tumors and the possible implications for women who suffer from 
this debilitating health problem.
  The best approach for women to effectively deal with this unique 
health dilemma involves regular exams by their doctor. Furthermore, it 
is paramount that the medical community explore alternatives to 
eliminate recurring fibroids by other than a woman having to undergo a 
hysterectomy.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that H. Con. Res. 165 has been 
brought before the House for consideration. For much too long women 
have suffered terribly with uterine fibroid tumors. I applaud my 
colleagues for bringing this bill before the House for a vote. This 
legislation, when enacted, will be implemented to encourage women to 
seek early detection of uterine fibroid tumors and will further enable 
doctors to pursue research concerning better treatment to avoid 
unnecessary and painful surgery.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of our 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 concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 165.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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