[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 134 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING MESOTHELIOMA AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 22, 2009

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance 
of September 26, which the Illinois House of Representatives has 
declared as Mesothelioma Awareness Day.
  According to the National Cancer Institute, about 2,000 cases of 
mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States. 
Understanding that diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult and could 
be years and years after exposure, a biopsy is required to make a 
confirmation. This means that many people may go without proper 
diagnosis and medical care.
  Research is being conducted, funded by the National Cancer Institute, 
pharmaceutical companies, and the Mesothelioma Applied Research 
Foundation. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is the 
beneficiary of a fundraiser on September 26 in Alton, Illinois--the 
Miles for Meso 5K.
  I want to congratulate the law firm of Simmons Browder Gianaris 
Angelides & Barnerd, the many volunteers who put together Miles for 
Meso, and all the participants in the 5K run and walk.
  The Simmons firm and its employees and John and Jane Simmons 
personally have shown their commitment to the region as evident in 
their efforts at Miles for Meso and through many other community 
service projects and donations.

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