[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E557-E558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE ACCOMPLISMENTS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY CANCER 
  INSTITUTE IN WASHINGTON, DC, IN RECOGNITION OF THE FIFTH ANNUAL GW 
                         CANCER INSTITUTE GALA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2008

  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute provides 
groundbreaking biomedical and clinical research, high quality 
educational programs, and effective outreach and outstanding patient 
care to the Washington, DC, area; and
  Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute seeks to understand why certain 
cancers disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, and to 
eliminate cancer disparities among minority citizens in the District; 
and
  Whereas the GW Cancer Institute's Executive Director Dr. Steven 
Patierno cochaired the AACR-MICR, American Association for Cancer 
Research and Minorities in Cancer Research, national conference titled, 
``The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities and the Medically Underserved''; and
  Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute is working to uncover genetic clues 
that help explain cancer disparities through a grant awarded by the 
National Cancer Institute's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities 
to establish a Genomics of Cancer Disparities Center; and
  Whereas the GW Cancer Institute offers an Office of Cancer Prevention 
and Control, an Office of Cancer Education and Outreach and an Office 
of Cancer Survivorship;
  Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute offers resources to citizens in the 
form of advocacy, support groups, education, outreach and clinical 
care;
  Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute leads the Community-by-Community 
Cancer Control Campaign aimed at decreasing the cancer burden of 
Washington, DC;
  Whereas, nearly 40 area churches participate in the GWCI's 
congregational cancer wellness initiative;
  Whereas, the GWCI served as a founding member and leader of the DC 
Cancer Consortium;
  Whereas the GW Cancer Institute's Dr. Paul Levine cochairs the Early 
Detection Subcommittee of the DC Cancer Consortium and Dr. Donald 
Henson serves as cochair of the DC Cancer Consortium;
  Whereas the GW Cancer Institute, together with the GW Medical Faculty 
Associates, operates the GW Mammovan which offers digital mammography 
to more than 2,500 women per year;
  Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute partners with local Washington DC 
based sports teams including the Washington Redskins and Washington 
Nationals, offering free prostate cancer screenings;
  Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute works with local, Washington DC 
media partners, reaching thousands with messages about the importance 
of getting screened for prostate, breast and colorectal cancer.
  Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute, working with the GW Medical Faculty 
Associates, has conducted free prostate cancer screenings for over 2000 
men in 18 months, including nearly 700 DC area men at the 15th Annual 
NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo at the Washington, DC, Convention Center;
  Whereas the GW Cancer Institute's Outreach Program works with 
barbershops in DC's Wards 4, 7 and 8 offering an outreach program in 
which lay health workers are trained in prostate cancer education and 
relay information to customers about the importance of early detection;
  Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute recognizes leaders in the field 
every year at the annual GW Cancer Institute Gala;
  Whereas, past GW Cancer Institute Gala recipients have included 
Carolyn R. ``Bo'' Aldige, the American Cancer Society, Lance Armstrong, 
Ray Michael Bridgewater, Zora Brown, Margaret M. Bush, Sam Donaldson, 
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD, First Lady of the Republic of Panama 
Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos, Harold P. Freeman, MD, Elmer Huerta, MD, 
LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., MD, FACS, the Honorable Connie Mack and Mrs. 
Priscilla Mack, Michael Milken, Nueva Vida, and Ellen Sigal, PhD;
  Whereas, the GW Cancer Institute will honor Margaret Foti, MD, PhD, 
Robert Siegel,

[[Page E558]]

MD and Mrs. Paula Siegel, RN; Sean Swarner, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu 
on May 3, 2008.
  Now, therefore, be it
  Resolved, That the U.S. House of Representatives--
  (1) honors and salutes the accomplishments of the GW Cancer Institute 
and recognizes its important work throughout the Washington, DC area;
  (2) recognizes the accomplishments and achievements of the GW Cancer 
Institute in research and community outreach; and
  (3) based upon the Institute's service, extends its appreciation to 
The George Washington University Cancer Institute in recognition of its 
Fifth Annual GW Cancer Institute Gala.

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