[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 82 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4123-H4124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR
AWARENESS MONTH
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1124) expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that there should be established a National Brain Tumor
Awareness Month, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1124
Whereas brain tumors are the leading cause of death from
solid tumors in children under the age of 20, and are the
third leading cause of death from cancer in young adults ages
20-39;
Whereas more than 190,000 people in the United States are
diagnosed with a brain tumor each year;
Whereas of these tumors, approximately 40,000 are new cases
of primary brain tumors and approximately 150,000 are
metastatic brain tumors, where a cancer spread from another
part of the body to the brain;
Whereas some 10-15 percent of all persons with cancer will
experience a metastatic brain tumor at some point;
Whereas brain tumors may be either malignant or benign, but
can be life-threatening in either case;
Whereas treatment of brain tumors is complicated by the
more than 120 different types of such tumors;
Whereas national priorities for dealing with brain tumors
include--
(1) supporting research programs at the National Cancer
Institute;
(2) strengthening brain tumor research program leadership
at the National Institutes of Health, including the National
Cancer Institute; and
(3) strengthening access to critical healthcare services
for Medicare beneficiaries;
Whereas the North American Brain Tumor Coalition
established a Brain Tumor Action Week during the first week
of May 2007 and each subsequent first week in May;
Whereas the Lori Arquilla Andersen Foundation is recognized
for their efforts to promote awareness of the life-
threatening effects of brain tumors, to advocate on behalf of
brain tumor patients, and to raise funds for medical
research;
Whereas Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure is recognized for
their work to bring more treatments to patients, stimulate
research and development and otherwise support the
accelerated development of new therapies for brain cancer;
Whereas the Goldhirsh Foundation is recognized for being
devoted to providing support for innovative brain tumor
research with grants awarded through The Brain Tumor Research
Awards Program and The Brain Tumor Funders Collaborative;
Whereas the American Brain Tumor Association is recognized
for their work to eliminate brain tumors through research and
to meet the needs of brain tumor patients and their families;
Whereas The Brain Tumor Society is recognized for their
work to find a cure for brain tumors, improve the quality of
life for brain tumor patients, survivors, and their families,
and raise funds to advance research projects that enhance
treatments and find a cure;
Whereas the National Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized
for their work to find a cure for brain tumors, and for
giving hope to the brain tumor community by funding
meaningful research and providing resources and education to
patients;
Whereas the Tug McGraw Foundation is recognized for their
work to support research that will improve the quality of
life in the physical, social, spiritual, and cognitive areas
of patients dealing with brain cancer;
Whereas the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized
for their work to strive to serve the needs of families and
children with brain tumors in hopes of improving the quality
of life and finding cures for pediatric brain tumors through
funding basic science or clinical research;
Whereas the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized
for their work to improve the treatment, quality of life, and
the long term outlook for children with brain and spinal cord
tumors through research, support, education, and advocacy to
families and survivors;
Whereas the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized
for their work to eradicate brain tumors, providing support
for families, and increasing public awareness about the
severity and prevalence of childhood brain tumors;
Whereas the Southeastern Brain Tumor foundation is
recognized for their work to instill hope, knowledge and
comfort by offering information, education, and support
services to all affected by brain tumors;
Whereas the Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized
for their work in meeting the needs of Oklahoma families,
caregivers and patients affected by brain tumors, through
education, advocacy, research and service;
Whereas the Michael Quinlan Brain Tumor Foundation is
recognized for their work to support those affected by brain
tumors through educational, emotional, financial, and
spiritual services;
Whereas the Brain Tumor Action Network is recognized for
their work to bring awareness to the general public about
brain tumors and to educate and empower brain tumor
survivors, their families and friends;
Whereas May would be an appropriate month to recognize as
National Brain Tumor Awareness Month; and
Whereas there is a need for greater awareness of brain
tumors and brain cancer on the part of the public, including
awareness of symptoms and warning signs, treatment options,
research needs, and public policy implications: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that
there should be established a National Brain Tumor Awareness
Month; and
(2) the House of Representatives applauds the actions of
medical professionals and other caregivers, researchers,
patients and their families, and others who strive to combat
and raise public awareness of brain tumors and brain cancer.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois.
General Leave
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on the resolution under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to express my gratitude to Chairman Dingell for
his support in bringing this resolution to the floor today. I want to
also thank Congressman Roskam for his support and cosponsorship of this
resolution.
For me, the heart and soul behind the effort to establish a Brain
Tumor
[[Page H4124]]
Awareness Month has been the Lori Arquilla Andersen Foundation, which
is in my home district in Illinois.
Many of us have been touched by cancer, my family included. But when
Linda Magiera lost her precious daughter, Lori, to brain cancer in
2005, she made sure to continue her daughter's passion for life and
desire to help others by creating the Lori Arquilla Andersen Foundation
in her name.
Lori was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme stage 4 brain cancer,
one of the most deadly, at the age of 33, just 3 months after her
wedding. She passed away 22 months to the day after her first of five
surgeries.
I am told by those who knew her that Lori was always upbeat,
positive, courageous, and smiling. The Lori Arquilla Andersen
Foundation has exemplified that energy over the past years. They have
made important strides in increasing awareness and raising funds for
brain tumor research, but they are also responsible for bringing the
issues that are important to the brain tumor community as well as this
resolution to my attention.
While the Andersen Foundation has managed to put a face on these
issues for me, the larger brain tumor community has also done
incredible work over the past decade. They have worked tirelessly to
support people with brain tumors and their families, raise awareness of
the disease and its effects, and to attain resolutions from governors,
State legislators, city councils, and mayors in support of establishing
a Brain Tumor Awareness Month in May. Today, we take one giant step
forward in advancing their cause. And it won't be a moment too soon.
Over 44,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with a primary
brain tumor in the brain or spine each year; and among children, brain
tumors are the second most common cancer and comprise approximately 25
percent of all pediatric cancers. Although less prevalent than other
cancers such as lung, breast, or prostate cancer, brain tumors are in
no way trivial for those who have them. Because they are located in the
``control center,'' the thought, memory, emotion, sensation, and
movement, brain tumors have serious and at times devastating effects on
the lives of patients and their families. Brain tumors can change an
individual's personality, their ability to communicate, and their
ability to walk or see.
Unfortunately, with over 126 different kinds of primary brain tumors,
the development of effective treatments is uncommonly complicated.
{time} 1715
The 5-year survival rate following the diagnosis of a primary
malignant brain tumor is about 30 percent. However, the average
survival rate for patients with glioblastomas is less than 5 percent,
and most survive for only 6 to 12 months. We must continue to work
towards finding a cure for this terrible disease.
Strong support for ongoing research is the answer, and increased
awareness is the first step in getting there. I'm so pleased to be
making progress on this resolution today. And with the recent Race For
Hope which was held on Sunday, March 4, here in Washington, DC, and
raised $1.62 million for brain tumor research, it is certainly timely.
Again, I want to thank Chairman Dingell and his staff for their hard
work in bringing this resolution to the floor.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise today in support of H. Res. 1124, acknowledging the month of
May as an appropriate month to celebrate National Brain Tumor Awareness
Month. I'd like to commend the North American Brain Tumor Coalition for
its work and efforts in establishing Brain Tumor Action Week in the
beginning of May each year.
In the United States, Mr. Speaker, more than 190,000 people are
diagnosed with brain tumors each year. Of those 190,000 Americans
diagnosed, 40,000 cases are primary tumors, and the remaining 150,000
cases are secondary tumors, where cancer has spread from another part
of the body.
My mother suffered and passed away 11 years ago from a secondary
brain tumor that began as lung cancer. The pain and the anguish she
suffered, the convulsions, despite a major surgical procedure and
anticonvulsant drugs like dilantin, were absolutely heartbreaking.
Anything and everything we can do to mitigate brain tumors must be
done. Thus, I'd like to applaud the efforts and advocacy for brain
tumor awareness by the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation, the American
Brain Tumor Association, the Brain Tumor Society and the National Brain
Tumor Foundation, the Brain Tumor Action Network and the many other
groups valuable contributions to combating these brain tumors.
I would especially like to thank the author of the resolution, Ms.
Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, for her leadership in raising brain tumor
awareness and commending the efforts of those groups who have helped
educate Americans about the symptoms and the warning signs.
I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his
support. It seems that we have something in common. My daughter-in-law
passed away from a secondary brain tumor as well, so I appreciate the
special meaning that this has for you personally, and for your support
for this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1124, as amended.
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. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a
quorum is not present.
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.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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