[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 16, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H6883-H6886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORTING NATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH WEEK

  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 208) supporting National Men's 
Health Week.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 208

       Whereas, despite the advances in medical technology and 
     research, men continue to live an average of six years less 
     than women, and African-American men have the lowest life 
     expectancy;
       Whereas all ten of the ten leading causes of death, as 
     defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
     affect men more than women;
       Whereas between ages 45-54, men are three times more likely 
     than women to die of heart attacks;
       Whereas men die of heart disease at almost twice the rate 
     of women;
       Whereas men die of cancer at almost one and a half times 
     the rate of women;
       Whereas testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers 
     in men aged 15-34, and when detected early, has an 87 percent 
     survival rate;
       Whereas the number of cases of colon cancer among men will 
     reach over 72,000 in 2003, and over one-third will die from 
     the disease;
       Whereas the likelihood that a man will develop prostate 
     cancer is 1 in 6;
       Whereas the number of men contracting prostate cancer will 
     reach over 220,000 in 2003, and almost 29,000 will die from 
     the disease;
       Whereas African-American men in the United States have the 
     highest incidence in the world of prostate cancer;
       Whereas significant numbers of male-related health 
     problems, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, 
     infertility, and colon cancer, could be detected and treated 
     if men's awareness of these problems was more pervasive;
       Whereas more than one-half the elderly widows now living in 
     poverty were not poor before the death of their husbands, and 
     by age 100 women outnumber men 8 to 1;
       Whereas educating both the public and health care providers 
     about the importance of early detection of male health 
     problems will result in reducing rates of mortality for these 
     diseases;
       Whereas appropriate use of tests such as Prostate Specific 
     Antigen (PSA) exams, blood pressure screens, and cholesterol 
     screens, in conjunction with clinical examination and self-
     testing for problems such as testicular cancer, can result in 
     the detection of many of these problems in their early stages 
     and increases in the survival rates to nearly 100 percent;
       Whereas women are 100 percent more likely to visit the 
     doctor for annual examinations and preventive services than 
     men;
       Whereas many men are reluctant to visit their health center 
     or physician for regular screening examinations of male 
     related problems for a variety of reasons including fear, 
     lack of health insurance, lack of information, and cost 
     factors;
       Whereas National Men's Health Week was established by 
     Congress in and first celebrated in 1994 and urged men and 
     their families to engage in appropriate health behaviors, and 
     the resulting increased awareness has improved health-related 
     education and helped prevent illness;
       Whereas the Governors of over 45 States issue proclamations 
     declaring Men's Health Week in their States;
       Whereas, since 1994, National Men's Health Week has been 
     celebrated each June by dozens of corporations, public health 
     departments, health care entities, churches, and community 
     organizations, as well as many States, cities, and localities 
     throughout the Nation, that promote health awareness events 
     focused on men and family;
       Whereas the National Men's Health Week web site has been 
     established at www.menshealthweek.org and features Governors' 
     proclamations and National Men's Health Week events;
       Whereas men who are educated about the value that 
     preventive health can play in prolonging their lifespans and 
     their role as productive family members will be more likely 
     to participate in health screenings;
       Whereas men and their families are encouraged to increase 
     their awareness of the

[[Page H6884]]

     importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and 
     medical check-ups; and
       Whereas June 9 through 15, 2003, is National Men's Health 
     Week, which has the purpose of heightening the awareness of 
     preventable health problems and encouraging early detection 
     and treatment of disease among men and boys: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That--
       (1) the Congress supports National Men's Health Week; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to observe National Men's Health Week with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Ose) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose).


                             General Leave

  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Con. Res. 208.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 208, introduced by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), supports National Men's Health 
Week. I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 208. The worthy purpose of this 
legislation is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems 
among men and boys across the country. The text of the resolution 
reveals that of the top 10 leading causes of deaths in the United 
States, according to the Centers for Disease Control, all 10 affect men 
at greater rates than women. Women make physical checkups and other 
preventative medical appointments much more frequently than men, and 
this bill aims to prompt all American men to not forget to make regular 
appointments with their physician.
  This is a worthy resolution, and I urge all Members to support the 
adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 208. I congratulate the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for his work on this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, National Men's Health Week is celebrated each year as 
the week leading up to and including Father's Day. The National Men's 
Health Week Act was passed by Congress in 1994 and signed into law by 
President Clinton, becoming Public Law 103-264 on May 31, 1994.
  Fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, uncles, and grandfathers should 
make use of this week and become aware of their health risks and ways 
to prevent disease, disability, and injury. The goal of National Men's 
Health Week is to raise awareness of the importance of early detection 
and treatment for men. The focus of last month's National Men's Health 
Week was heart disease, cancer, injuries, and stroke.
  Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer other 
than skin cancer among men in the United States. It is second only to 
lung cancer as a cause of cancer-related death among men. Heart disease 
is the leading cause of death for all men in the United States; and 
injuries, both unintentional and those caused by acts of violence, are 
among the top 10 killers for Americans of all ages. Males are at a 
higher risk than women for motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and 
homicide. This resolution will help address lack of awareness and poor 
health education among men and their families.
  I urge my colleagues to support it, and I would commend the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for his introduction and for bringing this 
matter to our attention.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), the author of 
this resolution and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), 
and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for moving this legislation 
through the Committee on Government Reform. I would also like to thank 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) and recognize the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Cunningham) for his tireless efforts to promote 
men's health. Finally, a special thanks is owed to the national media 
outlets such as CNN, CBS Early Morning Show, Wall Street Journal, The 
USA Weekend, Parade, Roll Call, and Fox Cable News for promoting the 
National Men's Health Week and recognizing the importance of the health 
of men and their families.
  I am pleased that H. Con. Res. 208, a bill supporting National Men's 
Health Week, is on today's suspension calendar. The National Men's 
Health Week Act was passed by Congress in 1994 and signed into law by 
former President Clinton on May 31, 1994. Former Senator Bob Dole 
sponsored the legislation in the Senate, and former Congressman Bill 
Richardson sponsored it in the United States House of Representatives.
  The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of 
preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment 
of disease among men and boys. National Men's Health Week is just one 
way in which the public and health care providers can become educated 
about the importance of early detection of male-related diseases.
  Mr. Speaker, men are at such high risk because a higher percentage of 
men have no health care coverage, make fewer physician visits each 
year; and research on male-specific diseases is vastly underfunded. 
Experts believe that early detection of certain diseases could be 
possible if awareness were raised concerning male-related health 
problems. These problems include prostate cancer, infertility, and 
colon cancer.
  Additionally, early detection may have an impact on the following 
statistics: men have a higher death rate for every one of the top 10 
leading causes of death as defined by the Centers for Disease Control; 
men die of heart disease at almost twice the rate of women; 50 percent 
more men die of cancer than women; despite medical technology and 
research advances, men continue to live an average of 6 years less than 
women; and black male life expectancy is 68 years, whereas the overall 
life expectancy for all groups is 77 years of age.
  These statistics are daunting, signifying that awareness, education, 
and research are indeed crucial. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that men 
visit a doctor for annual examinations. If I might note, much research 
has been done with regard to men preventing diseases, and one thing 
that has been very interesting is that research shows that most men who 
are able to get early prevention treatment were usually pushed there by 
a significant other in their lives, a woman.
  Preventive health care strategies such as annual examinations can 
play a role in prolonging male lives, thereby reducing the mortality 
rates for male-related health diseases. Many of the deaths are 
preventable, and many of the diseases which adversely affect men could 
be treated with early detection.
  During this year's National Men's Health Week, June 9-15, 
approximately 750 men participated in health screenings here on Capitol 
Hill over a 3-day period. Although the week has ended, the message is 
universal and resonates throughout the year. Since its inception, 
public health departments, community organizations, and health care 
entities have celebrated National Men's Health Week. As such, I urge 
all of my colleagues to support the adoption of H. Con. Res. 208.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I would simply close by suggesting that my mother always used to tell 
us if we knew better, we would do better. I would hope as men become 
more aware as this kind of information proliferates, we will find men 
going to see their physicians, getting early screenings, making sure 
that they detect at an early stage possible illnesses so we can improve 
the quality of men's

[[Page H6885]]

health and the quality of life for all Americans.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 208, 
which recognizes National Men's Health Week. It has been well 
documented in health-related research that despite numerous advances in 
medical technology and research, men continue to live an average of six 
years less than women. Lack of health insurance, cost-prohibitive 
exams, a paucity of health education information, and even fear all 
contribute to the reluctance of many men in visiting health care 
centers or physicians for regular health screenings.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have outlined the ten 
leading causes of death, and all ten of these affect men more than 
women; more than half of these are due to chronic conditions including 
heart disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory disease, and 
diseases of the liver. Between the ages of 45-54, men are three times 
more likely than women to die of heart attacks, and men die of heart 
disease at almost twice the rate of women. Cancers of the prostate, 
testes, and colon also contribute significantly to male mortality 
rates. Appropriate use of tests such as Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) 
exams, blood pressure screens, and cholesterol screens, in conjunction 
with clinical examination and self-testing for problems such as 
testicular cancer, can result in the detection of many of these 
problems in their early stages and increases in the survival rates to 
nearly 100 percent.
  The health outcomes for African American men, the population with the 
lowest life expectancy, are dire. Although heart disease is the leading 
cause of mortality for men of all racial and ethnic groups within the 
United States, significant racial inequalities in heart disease 
mortality among men have been reported for the last 50 years. Recent 
statistics indicated that the overall stroke mortality rate is 61 in 
100,000 for the general population--the numbers for African American 
men are significantly higher with 87 in 100,000 African American men 
dying due to stroke. The likelihood that a man will develop prostate 
cancer is 1 in 6, but African American men in the United States have 
the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world, and their 
mortality rates owing to this disease are higher than any other racial 
or ethnic group.
  I want to applaud the gentleman from Maryland for introducing this 
measure and for his continuing efforts in promoting men's health. 
Educating both the public and health care providers about the 
importance of early detection of male health problems will have 
multiple benefits, to include reducing rates of mortality and morbidity 
owing to chronic diseases. Men who are educated about the value that 
preventive health can play in prolonging their life spans and their 
role as productive family members will be more likely to participate in 
health screenings. I urge passage of H. Con. Res. 208.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my 
Congressional Black Causus colleague Representative Cummings on H. Con. 
Res. 208 which supports National Men's Health Week. This resolution 
requests that the President call on the American public and interested 
groups to observe National Men's Health Week with appropriate 
ceremonies and activities.
  Currently, Mr. Speaker, America is facing a dangerous and mounting 
crisis in men's health care--one that is all the more pernicious 
because of its silence and its disproportionate impact on men of color.
  This crisis costs lives--the lives of those most dear to us: fathers, 
sons, brothers and husbands. For example, American men die almost 5 
years before women do, for African-American men, nearly 12 years sooner 
than White woman. Forty percent of African-American men die prematurely 
versus 37 percent of Latino men and 21 percent of White men. Some 
189,000 American men will be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 
more than 30,000 will die. African-American men have the world's 
highest incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer. Men of color 
account for the majority of HIV cases reported among males.
  The causes for the growing crisis in men's health are deeply rooted 
and sociopolitical in nature. Yet, if men are to enjoy longer, fuller 
and healthier lives, then the poor state of men's health today must 
become a focal point on the nation's agenda.
  To address the obstacles that prevent men from seeking and obtaining 
adequate healthcare, we have compiled a public education toolkit, which 
is attached. In it, you will find information on the state of men's 
health, gender gaps and barriers to care, and the social and political 
implications of this grave problem.
  The U.S. health care system is the world's most advanced, with 
curative technologies and practices to treat nearly any significant 
disease. But there's a crisis brewing in America that has less to do 
with American medical know-how than with sheer male stubborness--and a 
health care system skewed in favor of females.
  In short, men are at risk. They get sicker faster than women. They 
die off younger. They vastly outnumber women as victims of violence and 
on-the-job accidents. They are reluctant to see a doctor, and when they 
finally try to, they face barriers to care. Quite simply, men are 
largely out of sync with the U.S. health care system, and they are 
largely out of sync with their own bodies.
  This crisis has been brewing for decades, ominously taking a backseat 
to the wondrous capabilities of American health care. Men quite frankly 
have been suffering in silence, lending greater and greater irony to 
the grand medical triumphs that we accumulate year after year.
  How bad the men's health crisis is becoming painfully clear. The 
facts we now have are disturbing. Here are just a few: Male mortality 
figures have seen dramatic change over the years. In the 1920s, males 
and females lived to be roughly the same age. Today, women live more 
than a half-decade longer: 5.4 years, to be exact. In fact, over the 
last 30 years, the ratio of male mortality has outstripped female 
mortality at every age. In other words, the gap keeps getting bigger, 
with men now living 74.4 years, on average, compared to 79.8 for women.
  For each of the top 10 causes of death, men have higher death rates 
that women. Twice as many men die from heart disease than women, when 
age is accounted for. And 40 percent more men die of cancer than women. 
By age 75, men die of cancer at nearly twice the rate of women. Yet 
cancer education and prevention is sorely lacking for men.
  But there's more. Male AIDS victims outnumber females four and a half 
to one. And men's death rates are at least twice as high as women's for 
suicide, homicide and cirrhosis of the liver. In fact, four out of five 
deaths by suicide are men, and men age 20-24 are six times more likely 
than women to take their own lives. We lose 25,000 men every year to 
death at their own hands.
  Men not only live more dangerous, they are accidents waiting to 
happen on the job too. In fact, 98 percent of all employees in the 10 
most dangerous professions are men.
  This is a fact borne out by a cold, clinical statistic. The federal 
government spends nearly $70 billion annually on cross-cutting programs 
to address women's health. For men, the amount spent is infinitely 
smaller, probably--it is as yet unknown. Most experts would agree 
today, however, that research on male-specific disease is under-funded. 
While prostate cancer comprises 37 percent of all cancer cases, only 5 
percent of research funding is earmarked for this disease, according to 
the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. This amounts to $190 million, 
as compared to $424.9 million earmarked for breast cancer. And this 
year alone, 180,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer; and 
almost 32,000 of them are expected to die from it.
  What's more, 39 out of 50 States have either an office women's health 
or a program focused specifically on women's health. By comparison, 
just six States formally address men's health issues.
  Deep disparities exist in our system of care for 30 percent of men in 
the U.S.--African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native Americans 
and others. Men die younger than women, and men of color have the 
lowest life expectancies of all: 66.1 years for Native Americans, 67.6 
years for African-Americans, and 69.6 years for Latinos.
  The health system is full of inequities for those men of color. 
Health-promoting behavior and early detection and treatment of diseases 
could reduce morbidity and mortality rates, but low utilization of 
health services, a lack of targeted health activities and increased 
risks due to social environment contribute to earlier deaths among men 
of color. For example, 21 percent of white men die prematurely from 
heart disease; the rate for black men is nearly twice as high: 40 
percent.
  So today I know we will pass this bill, and I ask my fellow 
congressional colleagues, other health providers, public health experts 
and officials, to bring this to the attention of people of this country 
want to know that we will also move just as determinedly and 
expeditiously too to ensure that our men are healthy.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Cummings) for introducing this legislation, I urge Members to support 
the adoption of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 208.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof)

[[Page H6886]]

the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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