[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 19 (Monday, February 23, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE:
  S. 2097. A bill to establish formally the United States Military 
Cancer Institute, to require the Institute to promote the health of 
members of the Armed Forces and their dependents by enhancing cancer 
research and treatment, to provide for a study of the epidemiological 
causes of cancer among various ethnic groups for cancer prevention and 
early detection efforts, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I introduce the U.S. Military Cancer 
Institute Research Collaborative Act of 2004. This legislation would 
formally establish the U.S. Military Cancer Institute (USMCI), and 
support the collaborative augmentation of research efforts in cancer 
epidemiology, prevention and control. Although the USMCI already exists 
as an informal collaborative effort, this bill will formally establish 
the institution with a mission of providing for the maintenance of 
health in the military by enhancing cancer research and treatment, and 
studying the epidemiological causes of cancer among various ethnic 
groups. By formally establishing the USMCI, it will be in a better 
position to unite military research efforts with other cancer research 
centers.
  Cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment are significant 
issues for the military population, thus the USMCI was organized to 
coordinate the existing military cancer assets. The USMCI has a 
comprehensive database of 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 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 resides in the Washington, DC 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. There are more 
than 70 research workers, both active duty and Department of Defense 
civilian scientists, working 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, Caucasian, African American and 
Hispanic subpopulations.
  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. 2097

       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 Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. RESEARCH BY UNITED STATES MILITARY CANCER INSTITUTE.

       (a) Formal Establishment of United States Military Cancer 
     Institute.--(1) There is a United States Military Cancer 
     Institute in the Uniformed Services University of the Health 
     Sciences (USUHS).
       (2) The Institute is composed of clinical and basic 
     scientists in the Department of Defense who have an expertise 
     in research, patient care, and education relating to oncology 
     and who meet applicable criteria for participation in the 
     Institute.
       (3) The components of the Institute include military 
     treatment and research facilities that meet applicable 
     criteria and are designated as affiliates of the Institute.
       (b) Research.--(1) The United States Military Cancer 
     Institute shall carry out research studies on the following:
       (A) The epidemiological features of cancer, including 
     assessments of the carcinogenic effect of genetic and 
     environmental factors, and of disparities in health, inherent 
     or common among populations of various ethnic origins.
       (B) The prevention and early detection of cancer.
       (C) Basic, translational, and clinical investigation 
     matters relating to the matters described in subparagraphs 
     (A) and (B).
       (2) The research studies under paragraph (1) shall include 
     complementary research on oncologic nursing.
       (c) Collaborative Research.--The United States Military 
     Cancer Institute shall carry out the research studies under 
     subsection (b) in collaboration with other cancer research 
     organizations and entities selected by the Institute for 
     purposes of the research studies.
       (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 shall 
     submit to the President of the Uniformed Services University 
     of the Health Sciences a report on the results of the 
     research studies carried out under 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.
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