[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3798-H3800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2009, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Boren) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I don't come to the House floor very often to 
speak. In fact, last year I addressed this body only a handful of 
times. I think that I am much more effective in representing my 
constituents by developing relationships in a personal setting rather 
than arguing my viewpoint on the House floor. But today marks a special 
time of year.
  Mr. Speaker, the month of March is colon cancer awareness month. I 
think that it's only fitting that the month of March, a month where 
Congress has the most legislative work days, is devoted to an illness 
that is often relegated to the back burner of cancer awareness. 
Obviously, colon cancer is not an issue that garners a lot of 
headlines, but colon cancer has had a dramatic effect on my life, as it 
has millions of Americans.
  I bring a picture of my mom up. Eleven years ago, my mom died of 
colon cancer. She was a vibrant woman. She was filled with joy. She was 
filled with optimism. This horrendous disease took her from Earth far 
too early. Because of colon cancer, she never had the opportunity to 
hold her granddaughter. She never had the opportunity to attend my 
wedding and see me marry my beautiful wife, Andrea. It's a tragedy that 
has forever left a void in my life.
  You know, she was like so many mothers. She was always so proud of 
her son. She was always pushing me. She always cared about my grades. 
She always cared about how I did in school. And I was probably not the 
best student but she kept after me. She kept telling me how smart I 
was, and she kept pushing me.
  The last memory I have of my mother is in a hospital room dying from 
this disease. She didn't get to see me become a Congressman. And like 
all Americans who have felt the pain and fear that comes with losing a 
loved one to cancer, I wouldn't wish that grief on anyone.
  The reality, Mr. Speaker, is that I am not alone. This disease kills 
tens of thousands of Americans every year. It is the third most 
diagnosed cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer death in the 
United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 150,000 
Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009, and out of that 
150,000 citizens, over 50,000 of them will die from it.
  What is so shocking about these deaths is the vast majority of them 
could have easily been prevented with a simple routine screening called 
a colonoscopy. That is 50,000 moms and dads and sons and daughters that 
could still be enjoying the great gift of life if they would have just 
taken the time to get a routine colonoscopy by their 50th birthday.
  Mr. Speaker, a colonoscopy takes under 1 hour to complete, and the 
results you receive will literally save your life. The American Cancer 
Society estimates that if detected early, 90 percent of all colon 
cancer deaths could be prevented.
  Now, just, if you will, take a look at this board here. Look at the 
stages. Now, the stage where my mom was diagnosed is stage IV. There's 
about an 11 percent survivability rate and at stage I, 90 percent, and 
despite the effectiveness of this colonoscopy that can figure this out, 
only 50 percent of Americans use this procedure.
  I think that's a very shocking statistic. Compare that prevention 
rate with breast cancer, where over 80 percent of women get a routine 
mammogram, and you can see why I work so hard to spread the word on 
preventing this disease.
  But there is some outstanding news. The outstanding news is that 
there is hope ahead in fighting this killer. The Centers for Disease 
Control, along with groups like the American Cancer Society and the 
Colorectal Cancer Coalition, have taken it upon themselves to raise 
awareness about this disease.
  Specifically, the American Cancer Society has launched a campaign to 
push the number of Americans who get screened for colon cancer from 50 
percent to 75 percent by the year 2015. It's a lofty goal, but it's a 
goal that's worthwhile. In fact, a few of my colleagues have introduced 
important legislation aimed at reaching this mile marker.
  One particular piece of legislation that I hope will receive strong 
consideration in the House Energy and Commerce Committee is my 
legislation, H.R. 1330, the Colon Cancer Screening and Detection Act of 
2009. My legislation is pretty simple. Just like a mammogram, my bill 
would require every health insurance plan in America, both group and 
individual, to cover a preventive colonoscopy before the deductible. 
This legislation is very badly needed.
  One of the top reasons many Americans do not get screened is the 
cost. The average cost of a typical colonoscopy is over $1,000. That 
wouldn't be a concern to many citizens who are currently covered under 
a private health insurance plan, but most health insurance plans have 
deductibles exceeding $1,000, or worse, they have a restrictive cap on 
preventive care, sometimes as low as $250, and that's the issue.
  We have thousands of Americans who are covered by insurance plans 
that pay little to none of the costs associated with a colonoscopy, so 
they never get one. It's a shame. We live in the

[[Page H3799]]

greatest country on Earth, and many of our citizens choose not to get a 
highly successful, life-saving, preventive test because their health 
plan doesn't cover it.
  I'm aware that the health insurance industry is totally opposed to my 
legislation. They will argue that my bill will dramatically increase 
the cost of insurance, but there is little evidence to support their 
claim. They said the same thing when Members of Congress pushed hard to 
require insurance plans to cover mammograms in an effort to increase 
the rate of early diagnosis of breast cancer; yet almost every single 
State in America requires insurance companies to cover a mammogram, not 
subject to the deductible.
  Furthermore, it has been well-documented that once colon cancer has 
progressed into the latter stage, the health care costs for treatment 
skyrocket and the survival rate plummets.
  Now, let's look at the board again that I brought up earlier. Look at 
this stage I through IV, and I'll make my point here. With such a high 
success rate if detected early, it makes financial sense but it also 
makes moral sense to find and treat colon cancer as early and as soon 
as possible.
  I believe that an industry, which is one of the most profitable in 
America, should lend its services toward preventing illness, not 
hampering our citizens' ability to discover it. Requiring health 
insurance plans to cover a colonoscopy is a commonsense approach to 
fighting colon cancer.
  In fact, many in Congress have voted in the past to extend Medicare 
beneficiaries this very benefit. In July of 2008, Congress passed the 
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. That, among other 
things, addressed the glaring deficiency in colon cancer prevention 
found in the Medicare program, and the language that was inserted into 
that bill to address colonoscopy access is very similar to the bill 
that I have introduced. That Medicare legislation, which passed the 
House of Representatives overwhelmingly, is a great piece of 
legislation that I think will save thousands of lives.
  And in closing, before I turn it over to one of my colleagues, I want 
to encourage all Americans that are 50 and over who have not had a 
colonoscopy screening to get one, and if you have a family history like 
myself, I think you need to start earlier.
  With increased awareness and some policy changes here in Congress, I 
believe that we can save tens of thousands of lives.
  You know, colon cancer is a silent killer, and Mr. Speaker, with the 
help of colleagues like Congresswoman Kay Granger and Representative 
Patrick Kennedy I know who's an advocate on this issue, it is my hope 
that we can make a dramatic impact on this terrible and painful 
disease.
  And I would like to call my colleague, Representative Granger, up and 
maybe she wants to share some of her thoughts about Colon Cancer 
Awareness Month, and I know representing Texas and Fort Worth of 
course, being an alum of TCU, I'm very proud of her leadership on these 
health issues. We've also worked together on tribal issues. I want to 
thank her and would like to yield to Congresswoman Kay Granger.
  Ms. GRANGER. Thank you to my colleague Dan Boren. Thank you so much 
for your hard work on this.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the important issue of 
colorectal cancer, as Congressman Boren also did.

                              {time}  1730

  Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the 
second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every 
3\1/2\ minutes, someone is diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Every 9 
minutes, someone dies from colorectal cancer. This is a disease that 
affects both men and women.
  This year, an estimated 149,000 new cases will be diagnosed, and an 
estimated 50,000 deaths will be caused by this cancer. The real tragedy 
is that many of these cancer cases and deaths occurred needlessly 
because the vast majority of colorectal cancer deaths can be prevented 
through proper screening and early detection.
  That is why I introduced a resolution recognizing March as Colorectal 
Cancer Awareness Month and commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 
first designation of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
  The more we talk about this disease, the more we encourage our 
family, our friends, and our neighbors to get screened, and the more 
lives we save.
  I hope my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee will 
discharge House Concurrent Resolution 60 from committee soon so that 
leadership can schedule the resolution for floor consideration.
  Less than half of those who should be screened for colon cancer are 
screened. Bringing House Concurrent Resolution 60 to the floor next 
week will encourage even more discussion about this disease that is 
preventable when detected early.
  But talking about colorectal cancer and recognizing Colorectal Cancer 
Awareness Month aren't enough. We need to increase Federal funding for 
early detection and screening. Along with my colleague from Rhode 
Island, Patrick Kennedy, I've 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. 1189, would establish a national screening program 
for colorectal cancer for individuals over 50 years of age or those who 
are at high risk. It would authorize State funding for these screenings 
and create a public awareness and education campaign on colorectal 
cancer.
  Despite scientific evidence supporting the benefits of screenings, 
screens for these diseases in this country remain low. Every 5 seconds, 
someone one who should be screened for colorectal cancer is not. When 
it's diagnosed late, the survival rate for colorectal cancer is only 10 
percent. When it's diagnosed early--before it spreads--the survival 
rate is 90 percent.
  Early detection screening saves lives, and if everyone over 50 years 
of age were screened regularly for colorectal cancer, the death rate 
for this disease could plummet by 80 percent.
  In addition to screening saving lives, early detection saves money. 
Treatment costs for colorectal cancer are extremely high and could be 
greatly reduced if mass screenings occur.
  Colorectal cancer treatment costs totaled roughly $8.4 billion for 
new cases in 2004. The cost of two-thirds of these colorectal 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 
colorectal cancer screening program will result in savings of about 
1\1/2\ years worth of Medicare expenses. If screenings were increased 
among people 50 years and older in the United States, it would save 
billions of dollars in Medicare expenditures. It would also save 
thousands of lives.
  The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Screening 
program ensures that people who are screened will get the full 
continuum of cancer care, including the appropriate followup for 
abnormal tests, diagnostic and therapeutic services, and treatment for 
detective cancers.
  If you have not already, I urge you to cosponsor the Colorectal 
Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act, and join me in 
observing Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Observing Colorectal 
Awareness Month provides us with the opportunity to discuss the 
importance of early detection and screening. It also provides us with 
the opportunity to thank the thousands of volunteers and national and 
community organizations for their work in promoting awareness for 
colorectal cancer.
  Dan Boren, I thank you for your time and your work on this.
  Mr. BOREN. Thank you. I think you're hearing the same thing over and 
over again--my colleague, Kay Granger, talking about early detection, 
talking about how important it is to go and get that test.
  We lost my mother. But if you look back in our family history, my 
grandfather had colon cancer, my grandmother had colon cancer. They did 
catch it early. So if you're someone out there who's watching this 
afternoon and you haven't gotten it done and you're thinking maybe you 
should do it--even if you're not at that 50 marker, if you have someone 
in your family who has been diagnosed in the past--

[[Page H3800]]

think about going and getting that test.
  You know, Mr. Speaker, Katie Couric, the anchor of the CBS Evening 
News is a strong advocate for colon cancer awareness. She lost her 
husband to this disease and since then has led a personal campaign to 
bring awareness to this issue.
  A few years back, she told a compelling story at her old job on the 
Today Show about a family that lost a loved one to this disease. I 
think it's a compelling story that I would like to share on the House 
floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, Michael and Erin Stennis learned the hard facts about 
colon cancer in the worst possibly way. This is their story.
  Michael Stennis, an ex-football player, was the picture of health--
43, fit, a businessman who owned a chain of successful restaurants. He 
and his wife Erin had been married for 14 years and had two gorgeous 
children.
  His wife discusses her husband's persona this way, ``He had a lot of 
strength of character. He was amazing. He wasn't afraid of voicing his 
opinions. He loved his friends, and his children were his life. He was 
the consummate family man.''
  Mr. Speaker, you can tell that Michael was an all-American guy. Yet, 
it's hard to believe such a vibrant man would have such a difficult 
fight ahead of him.
  Three years earlier, when he was just 40, Michael started 
experiencing irregular bowel habits and rectal bleeding. Like many 
Americans, he thought it was nothing serious. His wife began describing 
what happened, and said this, ``He had blood in his stool. He went to 
the doctor. Unbeknownst to me, the doctor suggested that he have a 
colonoscopy.
  ``My husband, being the very macho man that he is, did not want 
anything invasive. He just could not imagine that type of procedure 
taking place. So, like thousands of other Americans, he came home and 
said, `It's been taken care of.' And that was it.''
  A few years later, Erin realized that something was very wrong with 
her husband. She said, ``It had gotten to the point where he was having 
such severe pain. Because he was an athlete, he sucked it up. He would 
say to himself, `If I feel something, oh, you know, I can work it out.' 
But it got to the point where the pain became so severe that he had 
trouble moving.
  ``Finally, in November of that year,'' she said, ``I walked into our 
bedroom and I saw him hunched over in the closet. Something was very 
wrong.''
  So she finally got Michael to go in for the colonoscopy. And then 
they got the results. It was the evening of their daughter's 
Thanksgiving pageant. They got a call from their family doctor and 
friend, Peter Waldstein.
  She described the scene this way: ``My husband was on one side of the 
room and I was on the other side. His cell phone went off and I could 
see him on the phone and I could see the change in his face. It was our 
dear friend Peter calling to tell us both the news. We knew from that 
moment on that our lives had changed forever,'' she explains.
  He was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. The cancer had spread 
from Michael's colon and had metastasized to his liver. It was a 
devastating prognosis.
  After a long 20-plus month fight with this horrendous disease, 
Michael Stennis died. He was 45 years old.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a story that is told countless times across 
America. It is a story of a young and vibrant individual who has seen 
his or her life end far too early because of this horrendous disease. 
It's a sad case--a case that is very similar to the one that took my 
mom's life. It's a story similar to the one that took former White 
House Press Secretary Tony Snow's life. I think it's Congress's duty to 
do something about this.
  My colleagues and I have introduced multiple pieces of legislation 
aimed at addressing this terrible cancer. But we need Congress to begin 
the process of examining it.
  Every year, this disease takes thousands of lives. It is my hope 
that, with the support of groups like the American Cancer Society, the 
Colorectal Cancer Coalition, and my colleagues, we can make an impact.
  I can't tell you how much I have personally lost from this--how many 
times I want to pick up the phone and I want to call my mom.
  This is a real human face. These are real people that are dying. They 
don't have to be dying. All it takes is a simple test. My mom waited 
too long. She got the test too late.
  I don't want this to happen to some other family in America. So I 
need your help, all those in Congress, all of my colleagues, but I also 
need the American people to write your Member of Congress.
  I introduced this legislation in the last Congress, the 110th 
Congress. I got four cosponsors. People were scared about the insurance 
companies. But, let me tell you what. When given the choice between my 
mom and the insurance companies, the choice is very easy. We need to 
help these families. This is why I came to Congress.

                              {time}  1745

  I didn't come to Congress just because it is fun. I came to Congress 
to do something. This is what it is all about. Someone once said public 
service is about helping people. Let's help these families.

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