[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7739-H7740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF GYNECOLOGIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 473) supporting the goals
and ideals of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 473
Whereas the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation marks its 15th
anniversary in 2006;
Whereas the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation was founded by
the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists in 1991;
Whereas the mission of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation is
to raise awareness about the prevention, early detection, and
treatment of reproductive cancers;
Whereas the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation raises funds to
support training and research grants;
Whereas over 77,000 American women will be diagnosed with a
reproductive cancer in 2006;
Whereas there are screening tests and warning signs for
reproductive cancers, and early detection leads to improved
survival for all female reproductive cancers;
Whereas gynecologic oncologists are board-certified
obstetrician-gynecologists with an additional three to four
years in training in the comprehensive care of women with
reproductive cancers;
Whereas the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation works with
gynecologic oncologists, survivors, and advocates throughout
the year to increase knowledge about reproductive cancers, so
that these cancers can be prevented or detected at their
earliest, most curable stage; and
Whereas September is widely recognized as Gynecologic
Cancer Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Gynecologic Cancer
Awareness Month; and
(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States to observe
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month with appropriate
educational programs and activities.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. WESTMORELAND. 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 the concurrent
resolution currently under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, research indicates that more than 77,000 women in the
United States will be diagnosed with reproductive cancer in 2006. The
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation works with oncologists, cancer survivors
and advocates so that one day these cancers can be prevented or
detected at their earliest stages.
I am pleased to speak on behalf of this resolution honoring the 15th
anniversary of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation as well as this
mission to raise awareness about the prevention, early detection, and
treatment of reproductive cancers.
I urge all Members to join me in supporting the goals and ideals of
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month by agreeing to H. Con. Res. 473.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
The mission of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation is to ensure public
awareness, early diagnosis, and proper treatment of gynecologic cancer
preventions and to support research and training related to gynecologic
cancers.
For 15 years, GCF has advanced this mission by increasing public and
private funds that aid in the development and implementation of
programs to meet these worthy goals.
This year, over 77,000 American women will be diagnosed with a
reproductive cancer. In 2002, more than 27,000 women died from some
form of gynecologic cancer. GCF works with gynecologic oncologists,
survivors, and advocates throughout the year to increase the public's
knowledge about reproductive cancers, so that these cancers can be
either prevented or detected at their earliest and most curable stage.
September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, so it is an
appropriate time to recognize the efforts of the GCF, gynecologic
oncologists, and all those who work to save lives by educating
Americans about gynecologic cancers. This is indeed a worthy piece of
legislation.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H7740]]
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, it is with pride I rise today in support of H.
Con. Res. 473, supporting the goals and ideals of Gynecologic Cancer
Awareness Month and particularly the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation.
This marks the 15th anniversary in 2006 of the Gynecologic Cancer
Foundation. It is that foundation that has such a long and proud
history of serving women in America through educational programs and to
provide up-to-date information on the prevention and early detection
and treatment of these reproductive cancers, cancers that will affect
over 77,000 American women this year alone.
It was in 1999 that September was first declared Gynecologic Cancer
Awareness Month, and each September since then the Gynecologic Cancer
Foundation has embarked on an intensive education program to reach
women with an important message:
First, get to know your family history. Second, conduct a cancer-risk
assessment. Third, ask questions, educate yourself about these deadly
cancers. Last, make an appointment for an annual gynecologic cancer
screening test.
Mr. Speaker, every 7 minutes a woman is diagnosed with gynecologic
cancer. In 2006, over 77,000 women will be diagnosed with gynecologic
cancer; and, unfortunately, over 27,000 women will die, many of them
because they didn't have early diagnosis. Too many women are dying
because of the lack of early diagnosis. Education and early detection
are the keys to saving women's lives and reducing this terrible
statistic. If diagnosed in the early stages, the 5-year survival rates
for these cancers are over 95 percent.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important awareness program. We have done a
wonderful job throughout the years as Americans in shedding light on
other deadly diseases, including breast cancer; but this remains a
silent killer.
I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland), I thank the
Speaker of the House, and urge passage of this bill.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend Dr. Gingrey 1
minute.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Georgia for
yielding.
I just wanted to come down quickly and support Representative Issa
and H. Con. Res. 473, this resolution regarding gynecologic cancer.
I spent a lot of years in my former life as a practitioner of the
specialty of gynecology and obstetrics, and that dreaded fear of the
big C-word, cancer, for women, particularly ovarian cancer that is so
deadly. That is why it is so important that this resolution be brought
forward to the Congress and bring some recognition to this dreaded
disease.
Mr. Issa and I were talking earlier today about ovarian cancer, in
particular, and how difficult it is to detect. It is commonly thought
you can do a blood test, but it is not a good screening test for
ovarian cancer. There are other things that we can do, and we need to
make sure that the American public and our colleagues in the Congress
are aware of that. It costs money, certainly, but it saves lives.
I wanted to drop in for a few seconds, and I appreciate the gentleman
yielding to me, and I urge Members to support this very, very important
resolution.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the
adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 473, and 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. Westmoreland) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 473.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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