[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 127 (Friday, October 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S10827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COMMENDING DR. JIM MARKS

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I would like to make a few remarks 
commending Dr. Jim Marks, who will be leaving the Department of Health 
and Human Services in December.
  Dr. Marks has directed the National Center for Chronic Disease 
Prevention and Health Promotion within the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention since 1995. During Dr. Marks' tenure, the CDC has had a 
significant impact on the lives of all Americans through programs to 
prevent and promote cancer's earliest detection. Under Dr. Marks' 
direction and with the support of Congress, the Division of Cancer 
Prevention and Control has grown from approximately $123 million to 
over $313 million. This growth has afforded CDC the ability to provide 
national leadership in the cancer prevention and control. Dr. Marks was 
instrumental in leading efforts to partner with States, territories, 
tribal organizations as well as national, State and local partners to 
monitor cancer trends; conduct research and evaluate cancer prevention 
and control activities; apply scientific advances and develop strong 
cancer control programs; and to educate public health professionals and 
the public about cancer prevention and control.
  Some specific accomplishments during Dr. Marks' tenure include: the 
total number of woman ever served by the National Breast and Cervical 
Cancer Early Detection Program NBCCEDP, reached 1.9 million in 2003. 
Under Dr. Marks' guidance, the NBCCEDP has helped uninsured and 
underinsured women gain access to lifesaving screening and diagnostic 
testing programs for the early detection of breast and cervical cancer. 
To date, the program has: provided over 4.6 million screening 
examinations; diagnosed 17,009 breast cancers; 61,474 precancerous 
cervical lesions; and 1,157 cervical cancers.
  Expansion of the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) to 
cover 96 percent of the Nation's population. The cancer information 
gathered by the NPCR serve a key role in determining cancer patterns 
among various populations; monitoring cancer trends over time; guiding 
State planning and evaluation of cancer control programs; assisting 
States in setting priorities for the allocation of resources; and, 
advancing clinical, epidemiologic, and health services research. The 
data gathered through the NPCR coupled with information from the 
National Cancer Institute and the North American Association of Central 
Cancer Registries was combined to produce official Federal statistics 
on cancer incidence in the report entitled, U.S. Cancer Statistics: 
2000 Incidence.
  Development and expansion of the National Comprehensive Cancer 
Control Program to 61 programs in States, territories and tribes. CDC 
support permits the respective health agencies to establish broad-based 
Comprehensive Cancer Control, CCC, coalitions, assess the burden of 
cancer, determine priorities for cancer prevention and control, and 
develop and implement CCC plans.
  Development of A National Action Plan or Cancer Survivorship: 
Advancing Public Health Strategies, 2003 in collaboration with the 
Lance Armstrong Foundation and national experts in cancer survivorship 
and public health. The action plan charts a course for how the public 
health community can more effectively and comprehensively address 
cancer survivorship and focus on improving the quality of life for 
survivors.
  Dr. Marks' leadership and direction in CDC's cancer control and 
prevention efforts helped Americans lead more productive and healthier 
lives.

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