[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 123 (Monday, October 4, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10292-S10293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LANCE ARMSTRONG, A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I flew to Las Vegas Friday, and on the way 
out there I read the anniversary edition of Sports Illustrated. It had 
in it what has transpired in the world of athletics during the last 50 
years. The thing that struck my eye was Sports Illustrated said the 
most definitive role model during these past 50 years is not the name 
that one would think, but it is Lance Armstrong, the cyclist. Out of 
all the athletes, they said Lance Armstrong was the most positive role 
model of all the athletes in some 50 years. The reason that was 
important to me is I was going to Las Vegas Friday for an event with 
Lance Armstrong.
  This man has done some tremendous things, and not only athletically. 
Just a few years ago, he was dying of cancer. Many of his sponsors, 
when he was sick--in fact, most of them--no longer would support him. 
They pulled their support and left him for dead because of his advanced 
cancer.
  We all know that Lance Armstrong is in a class by himself as 
a cyclist, but he represents a growing population of cancer survivors.

  In June, the Centers for Disease Control found that the number of 
cancer survivors in the United States had tripled over the past 30 
years, a 300-percent increase. Unfortunately, people in my State have 
lower rates of cancer survivorship than our neighboring States.
  Nevada is home to world-class physicians, but we have lacked a 
research institution that can provide cutting edge treatments for 
patients who have been helped by traditional therapies. As a result, 
many Nevadans have been forced to travel out of State for cancer care 
or to simply forego nontraditional treatments.
  Just over 2 years ago, a young couple, Jim and Heather Murren, came 
to Las Vegas. Jim Murren came to work for MGM as one of its top 
executives, and he was accompanied by his wife, or vice versa, however 
one wants to state it. Heather Murren was a financial specialist in New 
York who worked for a large firm on Wall Street and was an important 
person in her own right. She came to Las Vegas, and discovered there 
was a need for a world-class cancer research institute in Las Vegas.
  It was a vision she had. The Nevada Cancer Institute has taken shape 
at a breathtaking pace. The institute, which is set to open its doors 
next year, has already assembled a team of world-class scientists. They 
have recruited Dr. Nicholas Vogelzang, who had been the director of the 
University of Chicago's cancer research center, to direct the new 
Nevada Cancer Institute.
  The Nevada Cancer Institute is offering hope to Nevadans and hope 
that more Nevadans will beat this dread disease and become like Lance 
Armstrong, a cancer survivor.
  I mention this today because Friday evening, Nevadans celebrated the 
hope of greater cancer survivorship when Lance and the Tour of Hope 
cyclists rode down the Las Vegas strip. It is not often the Las Vegas 
strip is closed, but it was closed Friday for a short period of time.

  The Tour of Hope is a week-long journey across America by a team of 
20 cyclists who have been touched by cancer. Some are survivors. Others 
are research scientists, advocates and healers.
  At the rally in Las Vegas on Friday, the Tour of Hope team members 
shared their inspiring stories. Lance Armstrong spoke about his 
experience and his passion for cancer research. He has done tremendous 
works on behalf of cancer patients. He founded the Lance Armstrong 
Foundation, which helps individuals living with, through, and beyond 
cancer. His historic six consecutive Tour de France victories inspired 
millions of Americans touched by cancer and the Tour of Hope is 
carrying his message across the country. Every American can help by 
signing the Cancer Promise, which is a pledge to support the search for 
a cure by learning about cancer prevention and research.
  This weekend I had the opportunity to collect these promises from my 
fellow Nevadans and send them across the country with the Tour of Hope 
cyclists. In addition to signing these promises, many people showed 
their support by wearing these simple, little yellow plastic wristbands 
Lance had 5 million of these made. They were gone within a couple of 
weeks. Now over 12 million have been sold and millions more are being 
manufactured: ``Live strong,'' it says. These are to be worn all of the 
time.

[[Page S10293]]

  Someone who closely watched the debate Thursday night between the 
President and Senator Kerry noted Senator Kerry had one of these on 
during the debate. These bands give hope--hope that lives can be saved 
and this dread disease can be beaten.
  I am proud of the progress Nevada is making in this fight against 
cancer, but it is still unfortunate that too many Nevadans don't have 
access to quality health care. More than one in five working adults in 
Nevada have no access to health insurance, perhaps the highest rate in 
the country. Nationally, we know almost 45 million Americans don't have 
health insurance, an increase of more than 5 million in just the last 4 
years alone.
  One reason so many Americans are losing their insurance is because 
health care costs are spiraling. Employers that do not provide 
insurance for their employees don't do it because they are cheap or 
they are mean; they do it because they can't afford it. They know if 
they have employees with health insurance, they are happier employees.
  Health insurance premiums have risen by double digits in the last 4 
years. Premiums for a family now have reached about $10,000. Rising 
premiums have hit businesses and families, also. An average working 
family now pays nearly $2,700 out of their own pockets for premiums, in 
addition to paying deductibles and copayments.
  It is not just premiums that are going up. The American Association 
of Retired Persons recently reported that, during the first part of 
this year, prescription drug prices rose more than 3.5 times the rate 
of inflation. The typical senior citizen will pay $191 more for 
prescription drugs this year than last year, and seniors are about to 
get hit with the largest Medicare premium increase in the history of 
the program. Monthly Medicare premiums will increase by $11.60 next 
year.
  Today I am hopeful about the gains we are making in the fight against 
cancer, but I also know we must do more to get health care costs under 
control. Unfortunately, the President's Medicare bill that passed last 
year was a huge giveaway to big insurance companies and drug companies. 
I happen to think the drug companies and the big insurance companies 
can take care of themselves. We need to look out for working families 
who have lost their health insurance, families who are struggling with 
rising premiums and copayments, and senior citizens who are being 
pounded by the rising costs for prescription drugs.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask consent that the time run during the 
quorum call off the time I have left first and then start running off 
the time of the majority.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, may I inquire about the time remaining in 
the morning business period?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senate is currently in morning 
business. The majority has 30 minutes remaining.
  Mr. LOTT. Thank you, Mr. President.

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