[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 23, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7325-S7326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 389--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE WITH RESPECT 
                     TO PROSTATE CANCER INFORMATION

  Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Chambliss, 
Mr. Graham of South Carolina, Mr. Burns, and Mrs. Lincoln) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 389

       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 more than $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, men should have an opportunity to learn about 
     the benefits and limitations of testing for prostate cancer 
     detection and of treatment of prostate cancer, so that they 
     can make an informed decision with the assistance of a 
     clinician; 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 Senate 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 screening 
     and treatments for prostate cancer, including brachytherapy, 
     hormonal treatments, external beam radiation, chemotherapy, 
     surgery, and watchful waiting.

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am pleased to be joined by my 
colleagues Senators Johnson, Bunning, Chambliss, Lindsey Graham, Burns, 
and Lincoln to submit legislation which would express the Sense of the 
Senate that physicians inform prostate cancer patients of all of their 
treatment options. The non-binding resolution which we are introducing 
stresses the importance of presenting all options to men diagnosed with 
prostate cancer.
  Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death of men in 
this country and is particularly devastating for men over the age of 
50. 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 will die from the disease. Clearly, the effort to raise 
public understanding about treatment options is crucial.

[[Page S7326]]

  I believe that patients should be provided with accessible and 
comprehensive information about all available treatment options in an 
effort to enable them to select the therapy most appropriate for their 
unique conditions. Understanding both the cure rates and the quality of 
life implications of each approach is essential in making an educated 
decision.
  Last week an identical resolution passed the House by a vote of 377-
3. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Let's take an 
important step forward in the fight against prostate cancer.
                                 ______
                                 

  SENATE RESOLUTION 390--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 9, 2004, AS ``NATIONAL 
                 FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS DAY''

  Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself and Mr. Daschle) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 390

       Whereas the term ``fetal alcohol spectrum disorders'' has 
     replaced fetal alcohol syndrome as the umbrella term 
     describing the range of effects that can occur in an 
     individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy;
       Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the leading 
     cause of mental retardation in western civilization, 
     including the United States, and are 100 percent preventable;
       Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a major cause 
     of numerous social disorders including learning disabilities, 
     school failure, juvenile delinquency, homelessness, 
     unemployment, mental illness, and crime;
       Whereas the incidence rate of fetal alcohol syndrome is 
     estimated at 1 out of 500 live births and of fetal alcohol 
     spectrum disorders is estimated at 1 out of every 100 live 
     births;
       Whereas the economic cost of fetal alcohol syndrome alone 
     to the Nation was $5,400,000,000 in 2003 and that each 
     individual with fetal alcohol syndrome will cost United 
     States taxpayers between an estimated $1,500,000 and 
     $3,000,000 in his or her lifetime;
       Whereas in February 1999, a small group of parents of 
     children who suffer from fetal alcohol spectrum disorders 
     came together with the hope that in 1 magic moment the world 
     could be made aware of the devastating consequences of 
     alcohol consumption during pregnancy;
       Whereas the first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 
     Awareness Day was observed on September 9, 1999;
       Whereas Bonnie Buxton of Toronto, Canada, the co-founder of 
     the first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day, 
     stated the purpose of the observance as: ``What if . . . a 
     world full of FAS/E parents all got together on the ninth 
     hour of the ninth day of the ninth month of the year and 
     asked the world to remember that during the 9 months of 
     pregnancy a woman should not consume alcohol . . . would the 
     rest of the world listen?''; and
       Whereas on the ninth day of the ninth month of each year 
     since 1999, communities around the world have observed 
     International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 9, 2004, as ``National Fetal 
     Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to--
       (A) observe ``National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders 
     Awareness Day'' with appropriate ceremonies to--
       (i) promote awareness of the effects of prenatal exposure 
     to alcohol;
       (ii) increase compassion for individuals affected by 
     prenatal exposure to alcohol;
       (iii) minimize further effects; and
       (iv) ensure healthier communities across the United States; 
     and
       (B) observe a moment of reflection on the ninth hour of 
     September 9, 2004, to remember that during the 9 months of 
     pregnancy a woman should not consume alcohol.

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