[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 49 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1787-H1789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page H1787]]
{time} 1500
SUPPORTING THE OBSERVANCE OF COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 302) supporting the observance of
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 302
Whereas colorectal cancer is the second most common cause
of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States;
Whereas colorectal cancer affects men and women equally;
Whereas more than 148,810 people in the United States will
be diagnosed with colon cancer this year;
Whereas over 49,960 people in the United States will die
from colon cancer this year;
Whereas every 3.5 minutes, someone is diagnosed with
colorectal cancer and every 9 minutes someone dies from
colorectal cancer;
Whereas every 5 seconds someone who should be screened for
colorectal cancer is not;
Whereas the vast majority of colon cancer deaths can be
prevented through proper screening and early detection;
Whereas the survival rate of individuals who have
colorectal cancer is 90 percent when detected in the early
stages versus only a 10 percent survival rate when colorectal
cancer is diagnosed after it has spread to distant organs;
Whereas only 39 percent of colorectal cancer patients have
their cancers detected at an early stage;
Whereas uninsured Americans are more likely to be diagnosed
with late stage colon cancer than patients with private
insurance;
Whereas only 18.8 percent of those without health coverage
in the United States have currently been properly screened
for colorectal cancer;
Whereas if the majority of Americans age 50 or older were
screened regularly for colorectal cancer, the death rate from
this disease could plummet by up to 80 percent;
Whereas regular colorectal cancer screening has been ranked
as one of the most cost effective screening interventions
available, with the potential to save more than 30,000 lives
a year;
Whereas treatment costs for colorectal cancer are extremely
high, estimated at $8,400,000,000 for 2004;
Whereas increasing the number of people between the ages of
50 years and 64 years of age who are regularly screened in
the United States, would provide significant savings in
billions of dollars to the Medicare program from cancer
prevention and treatment costs;
Whereas the Blue Star, developed by the Members of the
National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, the American Cancer
Society, the Colon Cancer Alliance, and C3: Colorectal Cancer
Coalition represents the collective fight against colon
cancer, the eternal memory of the people whose lives have
already been lost to the disease, and the shining hope for a
future free of colon cancer;
Whereas Coaches vs. Cancer (a partnership between the
American Cancer Society and the National Association of
Basketball Coaches), the Colon Cancer Alliance, and Ethicon
Endo-Surgery have created ``Earn a Blue Star Day'' as a means
for individuals and corporations to raise awareness of the
importance of screening for colon cancer;
Whereas greater awareness of this cancer and the means to
prevent it will save the lives of tens of thousands of
Americans each year; and
Whereas observing a Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
during the month of March would provide a special opportunity
to offer education on the importance of early detection and
screening: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) supports the observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Month in order to provide a special opportunity to offer
education on the importance of early detection and screening;
(2) recognizes and applauds the national and community
organizations for their work in promoting awareness about
colorectal cancer, providing information on the importance of
prevention and early detection through regular screening, and
facilitating access to treatment for its sufferers; and
(3) urges organizations and health practitioners to ``earn
a Blue Star'' by using this opportunity to promote awareness
about colorectal cancer and to support early identification
and removal of pre-cancerous polyps, detectable only through
colorectal cancer screenings.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Wynn) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.
General Leave
Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 302. This bill does
three things: First, it calls for the designation of March as
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Second, it recognizes national and
community organizations for their work in promoting the importance of
prevention and early detection through regular colorectal screenings.
Third, it urges organizations and health practitioners to ``earn a Blue
Star'' by using this opportunity to increase awareness about colorectal
cancer. And I will talk more about the blue star in just a minute.
But first let me note that colorectal cancer is the third most common
type of cancer and the second most deadly. Approximately 148,000
Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and
49,000 will die from the disease.
Every 3 minutes a loved one is diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Every 9 minutes a loved one dies from the disease. Every 5 seconds a
loved one who should be screened for colorectal cancer is not.
Colorectal cancer is a silent killer which often causes no symptoms
until it reaches the latest stages. Colorectal screenings save lives by
catching the disease in its earlier stages. If detected at an early
stage, the 5-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 90 percent. If
it is not detected until the later stage, the 5-year survival rate
plummets to just 10 percent.
This tragedy disproportionately affects minorities, particularly
African Americans, who are less likely to have access to health
insurance or see a doctor on a regular basis. As a result, African
Americans are diagnosed later and are 40 percent more likely to die
from the disease. In 2007, 1,600 cases of colorectal cancer occurred
among African Americans.
Hoping to repeat the success of the red ribbon in symbolizing AIDS
and the pink ribbon in symbolizing breast cancer, the National
Colorectal Cancer Roundtable has selected a blue star to symbolize the
fight against colorectal cancer. The star serves a dual purpose; it
recognizes the eternal memory of those people whose lives have already
been lost to the disease, and it is a shining hope for a future free of
colon cancer.
This resolution recognizes the important work that national and
community organizations have already done in promoting awareness about
colorectal cancer, including the creation of Earn a Blue Star day.
Additionally, the resolution encourages organizations and health care
practitioners to earn a blue star by supporting early identification
and removal of precancerous polyps.
Recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month provides us a
special opportunity to focus on education about screening and early
detection. As we continue to work to find a cure for colorectal cancer,
it is vital that we work together to increase awareness about screening
in order to prevent the disease from reaching its deadly conclusion.
Before I conclude, I want to thank my colleagues, Representative Kay
Granger and Representative Patrick Kennedy, for their leadership on
this issue. Although Representative Granger could not be here today, I
know that she cares very deeply about this issue and has worked hard to
bring this resolution to the floor.
I now want to urge my colleagues to join me in support of the
adoption of this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself so much time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed
cancer. It's the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the
United States; clearly a major player in our cancer burden here in this
country. Every 3\1/2\ minutes someone is diagnosed with colorectal
cancer. Every 9
[[Page H1788]]
minutes someone dies from colorectal cancer.
This is a disease that affects men and women equally. This year,
almost 150,000 new cases will be diagnosed, and almost 50,000 deaths
will be caused by colorectal cancer. The real tragedy is that many of
these cancer cases and deaths do not have to happen. The vast majority
of colorectal cancer deaths can be prevented through proper screening
and early detection. This resolution recognizes March as Colorectal
Cancer Awareness Month.
My good friend from Maryland talked about disparities; indeed,
disparities do occur. And one of the things we can do to diminish those
disparities is to talk. We can talk more about this disease. And the
more we encourage our family and friends, our neighbors to get
screened, the more lives we can, in fact, save.
But recognizing Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is not enough. We
do need to increase Federal funding for early detection and screening.
So, along with Congressman Wynn, Representative Granger has introduced
a bill that would authorize funding for early detection screenings and
make preventive care a priority. Specifically, the Colorectal Cancer
Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act, H.R. 738, would
establish a national screening program for colorectal cancer for
individuals over 50 years of age and/or who are at high risk. It would
also authorize State funding for these screenings, and it would create
a public awareness and education campaign for colorectal cancer.
Despite scientific evidence supporting the benefits of screenings,
screenings remain low for this disease in the United States, and every
5 seconds someone who should be screened is not. When colorectal cancer
is diagnosed late, the survival rate for cancer is only 10 percent, but
if it's diagnosed early, before spread has occurred, the survival rate
is in excess of 90 percent. Early detection and screening saves lives.
If everyone over 50 years of age were screened regularly for colon
cancer, the death rate for this disease could plummet by 80 percent. In
addition to saving lives, early detection and screening clearly would
save money.
Treatment costs for colon cancer are extremely high and could be
greatly reduced if mass screenings occurred. Colon cancer treatment
costs totaled roughly $8.5 billion for new cases in 2007. Let me say
that again, almost $8.5 billion for 2007. The costs of two-thirds of
these cancer cases are borne by the Medicare program.
The Lewin Group recently conducted a comprehensive study of the
potential cost savings to Medicare and found that every 10 years a
colon cancer screening program will result in a savings of about 1\1/2\
years worth of Medicare expenditures. If screenings were increased
among people 50 years of age and older in the United States, it would
save billions of dollars in Medicare expenditures, not to mention the
thousands of lives that would be spared.
The Colon Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act
ensures that people who are screened will get the full continuum of
cancer care, including the appropriate follow-up for abnormal tests,
diagnostic and therapeutic services, and treatment for detected
cancers.
Observing Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month provides us with the
opportunity to discuss the importance of early detection and of
screening. It also provides us the opportunity to thank the thousands
of volunteers and the national and community organizations for their
work in promoting awareness of this disease. Groups like the Prevent
Cancer Foundation, the National Colorectal Cancer Society Roundtable,
the American Cancer Society, the Colon Cancer Alliance, and C3:
Colorectal Cancer Coalition, these groups have created the ``Earn a
Blue Star Day'' as a way for individuals and corporations to raise
awareness of the importance of screening for this cancer.
I encourage my colleagues in the House to ``earn a blue star'' by
using this opportunity to promote awareness of colon cancer and to
support early detection and screening.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).
Mr. KENNEDY. I would like to thank the gentleman from Maryland for
his ambitious efforts on behalf of this issue. He has been tireless on
behalf of spreading the word on the issue of prevention of colorectal
cancer. I can recall for many years being invited to participate in
events where he has been out there talking about prevention and
prevention, prevention, prevention. I salute him for his efforts and
thank him for his service to our country on behalf of this very
important issue.
He said it as clear as anyone could say it, and that is that the most
common reason people give for why they have not had a colorectal cancer
screening is that it wasn't recommended to them. And the most common
reason that people die of colorectal cancer is because they haven't
been screened. So, what is the answer? The answer is we have to get
people to recommend that they get a screening for colorectal cancer. If
they get the recommendation that they get screened, then they have a 90
percent chance of survival. It's that simple.
Why are people dying of an illness that is so preventable? Because
they're not being told, first, that the statistics are what they are,
that this is preventable; and two, that the professions out there need
to get about doing what they need to do to make those recommendations
that people get the screening. If you're 50 and older, you need to get
the screening. If you have it in your family, you need to get the
screening. And these are the simple messages that we need to get out to
the general public. And Al Wynn has been the leader in this Congress in
making sure those messages get out to the public. And I want to thank
Kay Granger for her efforts as well in sponsoring this bill.
But the fact of the matter is that we cannot sit idly by and think
that this is something that simply is a matter of saving dollars. I
want to thank my friend, Mr. Burgess, for pointing out that we save
lots of money if we screen early. He pointed out accurately that the
Lewin Group said that we spent nearly $8.5 billion just this last year
treating colorectal cancer. Two-thirds of that will be paid by the
Federal Government; two-thirds will be paid by our taxpayers. And
imagine if we had screening, we could avoid that cost. If we had
screening, the cost of a screening could avoid all the heavy expenses
of that treatment. But imagine all the lives that it will save? Imagine
all the fathers and mothers and sons and daughters and brothers and
sisters who would be spared the awful trauma of having to be treated
with cancer.
This is the right thing to do. It's not only the right thing to do,
you know, financially, which should be a no-brainer for us in Congress,
we're looking for ways to save money, this is a money saver, but this
is the right thing to do for our people in terms of saving them the
heartache. So, what do we need to do? We need to cover people.
In my State of Rhode Island, we already mandate, our insurance
coverage already requires it. But unfortunately, as the American Cancer
Society is trying to do nationally, we have 47 million Americans
without health insurance. And until we get more people covered with
health insurance, there are going to continue to be people who fall
off.
That's why this legislation is so important. It sets up grants to
States so that we can target those who don't have health insurance so
that they can get the screening. If we know that they have colorectal
cancer polyps prescreening, then we know we can get in there and make
sure that they get the treatment early so that we're not stuck as a
society having to pay down the road for the most costly and expensive
kinds of treatment through the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
So, my friends, this is something that we need to do. I salute all of
those in the cancer community who have been trying to preach this
message. This is a message that needs to be preached. And I think that
every month ought to be Cancer Awareness Month. I'm just happy that we
now finally are getting about focusing on an illness that has been too
quiet, too quiet. When you compare it to breast cancer, cervical
cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer screenings are the lowest of
all of them, the lowest,
[[Page H1789]]
because it has been the most stigmatized of all cancers.
{time} 1515
But colorectal cancer can no longer remain that way because too many
people are dying as a result.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, at this time I will reserve my time.
Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, at this time I recognize the distinguished
gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) for 2 minutes.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, first, I want to thank Congressman
Wynn for his effort to bring this critical resolution to the floor
today. I'm glad to be here to speak out in strong support of H. Con.
Res. 302, a resolution to recognize March as Colorectal Cancer
Awareness Month.
My family and my life, like so many others, have been touched by
someone with cancer. Two and a half years ago, after fighting
courageously for a year, my amazing daughter-in-law, Fiona, died of
colorectal cancer, leaving behind two young children, a husband and
many loving family members and friends. At 38 years old, she died, not
having a screening, and though, in retrospect, she had symptoms. Too
many of us have either struggled with cancer ourselves or know of
someone who has.
I recently saw a new study from the CDC saying that colorectal cancer
testing has risen steadily since 2002, and this is very encouraging
news. But another study that appeared in the Journal CANCER at the end
of last year is extremely troubling to me. It shows a significant
underuse of colorectal cancer screening procedures among Medicare
beneficiaries. In fact, only 25 percent of Medicare beneficiaries
received recommended screening.
Mr. WYNN. The gentlelady is granted an additional 30 seconds.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. In fact, only 25 percent of Medicare patients
received recommended screening during the study period.
We have to do better. We must work to expand public education and
understanding of the benefits of screening. Congress needs to make it a
priority to reduce the amount of out-of-pocket-costs associated with
cancer screening to ensure that those who may be at risk of developing
colorectal cancer get screened. And as the richest country in the
world, we need to act to make sure that everyone gets the medical care
they need.
You've heard the statistics. If caught early the survival rate is 90
percent; if not, it's only 10 percent.
Through the establishment of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month we
will add to the over one million colorectal cancer survivors living in
America today.
I urge my colleagues to support this wonderful resolution, and I
thank the gentleman for introducing it.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I will yield myself 1 minute for the
purpose of closing.
This is an important bill and I do encourage my colleagues to support
this bill. Have the test, find the polyp, get the cure. It's really
that simple.
One of the problems with serving in Congress is you recognize that we
move so slowly on so many things. Madam Speaker, there are going to be
new medicines, new tests. We're on the threshold of great things in all
areas of medicine. The study of colon cancer is no small part of that.
But the reality is today there is a test, there is a test that can be
easily done. A cure is just around the corner for someone who might
suffer from this disease.
So I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I
thank my friend from Maryland for bringing it forward, and I'll yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I'd just like to take a moment to thank Dr.
Burgess for his support of this legislation. He expounded on it quite
well, and we appreciate his support. Also Ms. Granger, who I indicated
could not be here.
I particularly want to thank my colleagues on the Democratic side of
the aisle, Ms. Schakowsky, who obviously has a tremendous personal
story to tell in support of this legislation, and also Mr. Kennedy,
with whom I've worked with, and has had a tremendous passion in support
of this measure.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a
resolution offered by a fellow Texan, Congresswoman Granger,
recognizing the month of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
There are few diagnoses that strike more fear into Americans than
being diagnosed with cancer. More than 10 million Americans currently
live with cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, more than
1.4 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed this year.
In the United States, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common
cancer in men and women. If it is caught early, it is often curable.
Regular colorectal cancer screening or testing is one of the best ways
to prevent colorectal cancer.
Once abnormal cells start to grow, it takes approximately 10 to 15
years to develop into colorectal cancer. Regular colorectal cancer
screening can prevent colorectal cancer altogether because some polyps
and growths are identified and removed before they turn into cancer.
Screening can also result in finding colorectal cancer early, when it
is highly curable.
Houston's MD Anderson Cancer Center is located near my district so I
have seen the effectiveness of research and treatments that have come
from investment in cancer research programs. However, the easiest way
to prevent, treat, and recover from cancer is to find it early.
That is why recognizing the month of March as Colorectal Cancer
Awareness Month is important. Letting people know that they should be
regularly tested for colorectal cancer is the first step in saving
lives.
I want to thank my colleague, Representative Granger, and urge my
colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn) that the House suspend the rules and
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 302.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________