[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 186 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2520-E2521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING WORK OF CONGRESSIONAL MEN'S HEALTH CAUCUS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VITO FOSSELLA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2007

  Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, as a founding member of the 
Congressional Men's Health Caucus I am very pleased to report a 
groundswell of activity occurring as I speak today across the country 
related to men's health education, outreach, awareness, and screening. 
This focus and attention is long overdue. New data provide alarming 
statistics about a gradual decline in men's health. In fact, men are 
living on average about 5 years less than their female counterparts, 
men are leading in 9 out of 10 top causes of death, 1 in 2 men in their 
lifetime will be diagnosed with cancer compared to 1 in 3 women, and as 
women enter retirement (65-69 years of age) approximately 15 percent 
are widows due to the premature death/disability of men.
  I am proud to work with the Men's Health Network, MHN, to raise 
awareness of men's health; they, for over 15 years, have taken the lead 
nationally in setting best practices, creating grassroots networks and 
activism, and providing health services to men and their families where 
they live, work, play, and pray.
  Under their leadership we are seeing symposia, screening events, and 
campaigns launched all across the country aimed at reversing the 
negative trends in men's health. In November and December of 2007 
alone, they have led community/neighborhood development efforts 
resulting in a Massachusetts Symposium on Men's Health, Louisiana 
Symposium on Men's Health, Florida Smoking Policy Symposium, ``Healthy 
Sunday'' church screening at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Baton Rouge, LA, 
and will launch a Women Against Prostate Cancer organization in 
conjunction with the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center. Each 
of these programs and initiatives makes it a priority to empower men, 
women, and their families to live healthier lifestyles. These efforts 
are engineered to reach underserved populations who don't have access 
to health services or health education materials.
  Women Against Prostate Cancer is a new organization, founded by Men's 
Health Network in conjunction with the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate 
Cancer Center, that is developing a grassroots network of women 
volunteers who have been adversely affected by prostate cancer. The 
National Cancer Institute estimates 219,000 men will be diagnosed with 
prostate cancer, resulting in more than 27,000 deaths this year. 
Meanwhile, the state symposia create opportunities for networking for 
men's health and community outreach organizations throughout the 
State(s), as well as encourage preventative health measures and 
physician and patient dialogue.
  Actions like these can save lives and, more importantly, American 
families. I along with my colleagues belonging to the Congressional 
Men's Health Caucus am proud to support these continued efforts while 
continually stressing the need to establish an Office of Men's Health 
within the Department of Health and Human Services.

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