[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S6709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE:
  S. 1084. A bill to establish formally the United States Military 
Cancer Institute Center of Excellence, to provide for the maintenance 
of health in the military by enhancing cancer research and treatment, 
to provide for a study of the epidemiological causes of cancer among 
various ethnic groups for prevention efforts, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I introduce the United States 
Military Cancer Institute Center of Excellence Research Collaborative 
Act of 2003. This legislation seeks to formally establish the United 
States Military Cancer Institute, Center of Excellence and seeks 
support for the collaborative augmentation of research efforts in 
cancer epidemiology, prevention, and control. The mission of the 
Institute is to provide for the maintenance of health in the military 
by enhancing cancer research and treatment, and to study the 
epidemiological causes of cancer among various ethnic groups. By 
formally establishing the USMCI as a Center of Excellence it will 
better unite military research efforts with other cancer research 
centers.
  Cancer prevention and treatment for the military population is a 
significant issue, thus the USMCI was organized to coordinate the 
military cancer assets already established. The USMCI has a 
comprehensive database on its beneficiary population of 9 million 
people. The military's nationwide tumor registry, the Automated Central 
Tumor Registry, has acquired more than 180,000 cases in the last 14 
years, and a serum repository of 30 million specimens from military 
personnel collected sequentially since 1987. This population is 
predominantly Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic.
  The Director of the USMCI, Dr. John Potter, is also a Professor of 
Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 
USUHS. A highly talented cancer epidemiologist, Dr. Kangmin Zhu, has 
also been recruited to lead the USMCI Prevention and Control Programs.
  The USMCI currently functions in the Washington, D.C. area, and its 
components are located at the National Naval Medical Center, the 
Malcolm Grow Medical Center, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 
and the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute. Currently there 
are more than 70 research workers, both active duty and Department of 
Defense civilian scientists, in the USMCI.
  The USMCI intends to expand its research activities to military 
medical centers across the Nation. Special emphasis will be placed on 
the study of genetic and environmental factors in carcinogenesis among 
the entire population including Asian, Causasian, African-American and 
Hispanic populations.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1084

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``United States Military 
     Cancer Institute Center of Excellence Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. RESEARCH BY UNITED STATES MILITARY CANCER INSTITUTE 
                   CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.

       (a) Formal Establishment of United States Military Cancer 
     Institute Center of Excellence.--(1) There is hereby 
     established the United States Military Cancer Institute 
     Center of Excellence in the Uniformed Services University of 
     the Health Sciences (USUHS).
       (2) The Center shall consist of the United States Military 
     Cancer Institute (USMCI) and such other elements of the 
     Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences as the 
     President of the University considers appropriate.
       (b) Research.--(1) The United States Military Cancer 
     Institute Center of Excellence shall carry out a research 
     study on the epidemiological causes of cancer among 
     populations of various ethnic origins, including an 
     assessment of the carcinogenic effect of various genetic and 
     environmental factors, and of disparities in health, inherent 
     or common among populations of various ethnic origins.
       (2) The research study shall include complementary research 
     on oncologic nursing.
       (c) Collaborative Research.--The United States Military 
     Cancer Institute Center of Excellence shall carry out the 
     research study required pursuant to subsection (b) in 
     collaboration with other cancer research organizations and 
     entities selected by the Center for purposes of the research 
     study and construction.
       (d) Reports.--(1) Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Director of the United States Military Cancer Institute 
     Center of Excellence shall submit to the President of the 
     Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences a report 
     on the results of the research study required pursuant to 
     subsection (b).
       (2) Not later than 60 days after the receipt of a report 
     under paragraph (1), the President of the University shall 
     transmit such report to Congress, together with such 
     additional information and recommendations as the President 
     of the University considers appropriate.
                                 ______