[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3896-H3897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1530
 EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO NEED TO PROVIDE PROSTATE 
  CANCER PATIENTS WITH MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON TREATMENT 
                                OPTIONS

  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 669) expressing the sense of Congress 
with respect to the need to provide prostate cancer patients with 
meaningful access to information on treatment options, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 669

       Whereas, in 2004, it is estimated that approximately 
     230,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the 
     United States, and nearly 30,000 men in the United States 
     will die from prostate cancer;
       Whereas prostate cancer is the second leading cause of 
     cancer death in men in the United States;
       Whereas over $4,700,000,000 is spent annually in the United 
     States in direct treatment costs for prostate cancer;
       Whereas African American men are diagnosed with and die 
     from prostate cancer more frequently than men of other ethnic 
     backgrounds;
       Whereas increased education among health care providers and 
     patients regarding the need for prostate cancer screening 
     tests has resulted in the diagnosis of approximately 86 
     percent of prostate cancer patients before the cancerous 
     cells have spread appreciably beyond the prostate gland, 
     thereby enhancing the odds of successful treatment;
       Whereas the potential complication rates for significant 
     side effects vary among the most common forms of treatment 
     for prostate cancer;
       Whereas prostate cancer often strikes elderly people in the 
     United States, highlighting the importance of balancing the 
     potential benefits and risks of various treatments on an 
     individual basis; and
       Whereas Congress as a whole, and Members of Congress as 
     individuals, are in unique positions to support the fight 
     against prostate cancer, to help raise public awareness about 
     the need to make screening tests available to all people at 
     risk for prostate cancer, and to provide prostate cancer 
     patients with adequate information to assess the relative 
     benefits and risks of treatment options: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) national and community organizations and health care 
     providers have played a commendable role in supplying 
     information concerning the importance of screening for 
     prostate cancer and the treatment options for patients with 
     prostate cancer; and
       (2) the Federal Government and the States should ensure 
     that health care providers supply prostate cancer patients 
     with appropriate information and any other tools necessary 
     for prostate cancer patients to receive readily 
     understandable descriptions of the advantages, disadvantages, 
     benefits, and risks of all medically efficacious treatments 
     for prostate cancer, including brachytherapy, hormonal 
     treatments, external beam radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, 
     and watchful waiting.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Brown) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. 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 H. Res. 669.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As we celebrate the 10th anniversary this week of the National Men's 
Health Week, few topics are more germane than prostate cancer.
  This year, 2004, the American Cancer Society estimates that 
approximately 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 
our country and that nearly 30,000 men in this country will die from 
prostate cancer. It is, in fact, the second leading cause of cancer 
death in men in the United States.
  About 16 percent of American men will be diagnosed with prostate 
cancer during their lifetime, 8 percent will develop significant 
symptoms, and 3 percent will die of the disease. Over $4.7 billion is 
spent annually in the United States in direct treatment costs for 
prostate cancer. African American men are diagnosed with and die from 
prostate cancer more frequently than men of other ethnic backgrounds.
  Increased education among health care providers and patients 
regarding the need for prostate cancer screening tests has resulted in 
the diagnosis of approximately 86 percent of prostate cancer patients 
before the cancerous cells have spread appreciably beyond the prostrate 
gland, thereby enhancing the odds of successful treatment.
  The potential complication rates for significant side effects vary 
among the most common form of treatment for

[[Page H3897]]

prostate cancer, however. It is a disease that strikes elderly people 
in the United States, which also highlights the importance of balancing 
the potential benefits and risks of various treatments on an individual 
basis.
  Congress as a whole, and Members of Congress as individuals, are in 
unique positions to support the fight against prostate cancer to help 
raise public awareness about the need to make screening tests available 
to all people at risk and to provide prostate cancer patients with 
adequate information to assess the relative benefits and risks of their 
treatment options.
  This resolution does several things. First of all, it recognizes that 
national and community organizations and health care providers have 
played a commendable role in supplying information concerning the 
importance of screening prostate cancer and the treatment options for 
patients with prostate cancer; and the Federal Government and States 
should ensure that health care providers supply prostate cancer 
patients with appropriate information and any other tools necessary for 
them to receive readily understandable descriptions of the advantages, 
disadvantages, benefits, and risks of all medically efficacious 
treatments for prostate cancer, including brachytherapy, hormonal 
treatments, external beam radiation, chemotherapy, surgery and, in some 
cases, simply watchful waiting.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes.
  I would like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Deal), and my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns), and 
other Members who helped put this resolution together.
  One in six American men will develop prostate cancer in their 
lifetimes, one in six. Only skin cancer is more prevalent in our 
population. Approximately 30,000 men will die from prostate cancer this 
year. Early detection can obviously reduce that number. In fact, early 
detection is crucial in raising awareness about this disease as the 
best way to promote regular testing.
  A friend of mine in Columbus recently learned that lesson. He had a 
regular test, early detection, successful surgery and back to his 
normal active life.
  This resolution says Congress can play a unique role in raising 
public awareness about prostate cancer. We can and we should. There 
have been exciting developments recently in prostate cancer prevention. 
A class of drugs called statins hold promise for keeping this form of 
cancer at bay.
  Each year, I join the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), my friend, 
on a letter signed by many Members on both sides of the aisle urging 
the Committee on Appropriations to provide ample funding for prostate 
cancer research. That is one piece of the puzzle; public awareness is 
the other.
  We have a ready tool in the fight against prostate cancer. That tool 
is information.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this 
resolution and continue to help get the word out.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as 
he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Burns), my colleague.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 669 and the families 
and victims of prostate cancer throughout our Nation.
  Almost 30,000 Americans died of prostate cancer last year; and Mr. 
Speaker, that is far too many families who are left behind, losing the 
company of their loved ones. When it is identified early, like many 
cancers, prostate cancer can be treated and treated effectively. That 
is why it is crucial for all Americans to receive periodic screenings.
  None of us are in a hurry to leave this world. Our time with our 
children and grandchildren is precious, and we should all protect 
ourselves in every manner possible. Our health care providers in 
America are performing an important service by advocating periodic 
screenings for this deadly disease.
  I am proud to join my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Deal), and to offer my thanks to these men and women, as well as those 
who assist all Americans, in recognizing the challenges of prostate 
cancer. As a Congress, we must pass this resolution to reaffirm 
Congress' commitment to supporting their efforts.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  There are many who have played an important role in making the public 
aware of the ability to treat and to deal with prostate cancer. One of 
those is a constituent of mine, Theragenix, that is located in my 
district, manufacturer of a seed that is used in brachytherapy. They, 
along with many other organizations who provide other treatments, have 
been very instrumental in passing this resolution to the floor today to 
get it available to the public for information and also to ensure that 
adequate reimbursements are made to the providers so that when a 
treatment is selected by a patient and by a physician that adequate 
reimbursement will be made to make that treatment available.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 669.
  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. DEAL of Georgia. 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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