[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 100 (Tuesday, June 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S5704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORTING NATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH WEEK

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP 
Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now 
proceed to S. Res. 585.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 585) supporting National Men's Health 
     Week.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 585) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 585

       Whereas, despite advances in medical technology and 
     research, men continue to live an average of more than 5 
     years less than women, and African-American men have the 
     lowest life expectancy;
       Whereas 9 of the 10 leading causes of death, as defined by 
     the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affect men at 
     a higher percentage than women;
       Whereas, between ages 45 and 54, men are 3 times more 
     likely than women to die of heart attacks;
       Whereas men die of heart disease at 1\1/2\ times the rate 
     of women;
       Whereas men die of cancer at almost 1\1/2\ times the rate 
     of women;
       Whereas testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers 
     in men aged 15 to 34, and, when detected early, has a 96 
     percent survival rate;
       Whereas the number of cases of colon cancer among men will 
     reach almost 54,000 in 2008, and almost \1/2\ will die from 
     the disease;
       Whereas the likelihood that a man will develop prostate 
     cancer is 1 in 6;
       Whereas the number of men developing prostate cancer will 
     reach over 186,320 in 2008, and an estimated 28,660 will die 
     from the disease;
       Whereas African-American men in the United States have the 
     highest incidence in the world of prostate cancer;
       Whereas significant numbers of health problems that affect 
     men, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, colon 
     cancer, and infertility, could be detected and treated if 
     men's awareness of these problems was more pervasive;
       Whereas more than \1/2\ of the elderly widows now living in 
     poverty were not poor before the death of their husbands, and 
     by age 100 women outnumber men 8 to 1;
       Whereas educating both the public and health care providers 
     about the importance of early detection of male health 
     problems will result in reducing rates of mortality for these 
     diseases;
       Whereas appropriate use of tests such as prostate specific 
     antigen (PSA) exams, blood pressure screens, and cholesterol 
     screens, in conjunction with clinical examination and self-
     testing for problems such as testicular cancer, can result in 
     the detection of many of these problems in their early stages 
     and increase the survival rates to nearly 100 percent;
       Whereas women are 100 percent more likely to visit the 
     doctor for annual examinations and preventive services than 
     men;
       Whereas men are less likely than women to visit their 
     health center or physician for regular screening examinations 
     of male-related problems for a variety of reasons, including 
     fear, lack of health insurance, lack of information, and cost 
     factors;
       Whereas National Men's Health Week was established by 
     Congress in 1994 and urged men and their families to engage 
     in appropriate health behaviors, and the resulting increased 
     awareness has improved health-related education and helped 
     prevent illness;
       Whereas the Governors of over 45 States issue proclamations 
     annually declaring Men's Health Week in their States;
       Whereas, since 1994, National Men's Health Week has been 
     celebrated each June by dozens of States, cities, localities, 
     public health departments, health care entities, churches, 
     and community organizations throughout the Nation, that 
     promote health awareness events focused on men and family;
       Whereas the National Men's Health Week Internet website has 
     been established at www.menshealthweek.org and features 
     Governors' proclamations and National Men's Health Week 
     events;
       Whereas men who are educated about the value that 
     preventive health can play in prolonging their lifespan and 
     their role as productive family members will be more likely 
     to participate in health screenings;
       Whereas men and their families are encouraged to increase 
     their awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, 
     regular exercise, and medical checkups; and
       Whereas June 9 through 15, 2008, is National Men's Health 
     Week, which has the purpose of heightening the awareness of 
     preventable health problems and encouraging early detection 
     and treatment of disease among men and boys: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the annual National Men's Health Week; and
       (2) calls upon the people of the United States and 
     interested groups to observe National Men's Health Week with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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