[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H344-H345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CERVICAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1011) recognizing the importance of cervical
health and of detecting cervical cancer during its earliest stages and
supporting the goals and ideals of Cervical Health Awareness Month.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1011
Whereas approximately 11,270 women were diagnosed with, and
approximately 4,070 women died from cervical cancer in the
United States in 2009;
Whereas cervical cancer occurs most often in Hispanic
women, at a rate that is more than twice what is seen in non-
Hispanic White women;
Whereas African-American women develop cervical cancer
about 50 percent more often than non-Hispanic White women;
Whereas half of the women diagnosed with the disease are
between 35 and 55 years of age, and approximately 20 percent
of diagnoses are made in women older than 65;
Whereas cervical cancer is usually a slow-growing cancer
that may not have symptoms, and is primarily caused by the
human papillomavirus (HPV), but can be detected by
Papanicolaou tests (Pap tests) or other early detection
tests;
Whereas the earlier cervical cancer is detected the better
chance a woman has of surviving cervical cancer;
Whereas cervical cancer patients and survivors have shown
tremendous courage and determination in the face of
adversity: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Cervical Health
Awareness Month;
(2) recognizes the importance of good cervical health and
of detecting cervical cancer during its earliest stages;
(3) urges healthcare advocates to continue to raise public
awareness about cervical cancer and the importance of early
detection;
(4) urges the people of the United States to learn about
cervical cancer and its causes, most notably human
papillomavirus (HPV), and the importance of early detection;
and
(5) recognizes the patients and survivors of cervical
cancer and their families for their tremendous courage and
determination.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rules, the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield to myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H. Res. 1011, supporting the goals and ideals of
Cervical Health Awareness Month.
According to the American Cancer Society, over 11,000 American women
will receive the news that they have cervical cancer this year, and
over 4,000 women will die due to this disease.
The earlier cervical cancer is detected, the better chance a woman
has of surviving. Cellular changes that precede cervical cancer can be
detected by Pap tests or other early detection methods. With early
detection, women can get treatment that prevents the disease from
progressing to a later stage.
As a result of the increase in prevention, we are beginning to see a
decrease in the number of women who get and die from cervical cancer.
But we still have more work to do, especially in the minority
populations. African American women and Hispanic women, for example,
are 50 percent more likely to develop cervical cancer than non-Hispanic
white women and are also more likely to die from the disease.
And that is why this resolution, Madam Speaker, before us today is so
important. We must increase awareness of cervical cancer and promote
testing to ensure early detection so that we can further reduce the
numbers of women who succumb to cervical cancer every year.
The resolution before us today supports the goals and ideals of
Cervical Health Awareness Month. It acknowledges the importance of
early detection as a crucial tool in treating and surviving the
disease, and supports heightened awareness about prevention of cervical
cancer.
I want to thank my colleague, the sponsor of the legislation,
Representative Debbie Halvorson from Illinois, for her work in raising
this important issue. I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution,
Madam Speaker.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Health of the Energy and Commerce Committee for
bringing this important piece of legislation to the floor. And I am a
cosponsor of H. Res. 1011, sponsored by Representative Deborah
Halvorson from the State of Illinois.
This month, January, is national Cervical Health Awareness Month, and
it is important, it is fitting that we highlight the educational
efforts that have been made to increase early detection of cervical
cancer. Almost half of the women that are diagnosed with this life-
threatening disease are between the ages of 35 and 55. They actually
fall into two populations. In one population, the disease is relatively
slow to evolve. Obviously, in this group, the detection of precancerous
and pre-invasive changes allows for treatment of this disease to be
relatively straightforward. But there is a second population,
fortunately a much smaller population, where the disease behaves with
sometimes frightening speed. The disease can be so aggressive as to go
from a normal test to an actual invasive cancer within a year's time,
and it is this group of individuals where these tests may, in fact, be
life-saving.
That is why it is so important that we highlight the awareness of
cervical health. The month of January is more than half over. But the
need for cervical cancer awareness and education should continue
throughout the entire year.
Awareness is the leading cause in the annual decline in deaths from
cervical disease. The survival rate of individuals who have cervical
cancer is 96 to 99 percent when detected in the early stages versus
only a 15 to 20 percent survival rate when cervical cancer is diagnosed
after it has spread beyond the confines of the cervix. It is because of
successful programs that encourage early diagnosis, such as national
Cervical Health Awareness Month, that Americans can lead full and
active lives.
By supporting the observance of national Cervical Health Awareness
Month, we have the opportunity to encourage women to educate themselves
about this disease and about the screening methods that are available
to them.
Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1500
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
[[Page H345]]
the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson), who is the sponsor of
the legislation.
Mrs. HALVORSON. I want to thank Congressman Pallone. I would also
like to thank my colleagues for recognizing me on behalf of this very
important and timely resolution.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1011, commemorating
the goals and ideals of Cervical Health Awareness Month, and I urge my
colleagues to support its passage. January has long been recognized as
Cervical Health Awareness Month, particularly throughout the public
health, women's health, and cervical health advocacy communities.
Today we commemorate the hard work and sacrifice that has been made
by these patients, their families, and those who have been confronted
by this disease. We also honor the health care providers and advocates
that tirelessly work to treat this disease and work to educate the
general public on its causes and treatments.
Madam Speaker, cervical cancer is usually a very slow-growing cancer
that may not present any symptoms. And it is primarily caused by the
human papillomavirus, HPV, but can be detected by early detection
tests. It is estimated that 4,000 women in the United States die of
cervical cancer every year, and approximately 11,000 new cases will be
detected just this year. Half of those women diagnosed with the disease
are, as has been said, between 35 and 55 years of age. And
approximately 20 percent of all those diagnoses are made in women who
are older than 55 years of age. In the vast majority of cases, these
deaths could be prevented with early detection, and by being educated
and aware of causes, screenings, and medical treatments.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, cervical
cancer is the easiest female cancer to prevent, and yet it was the
number one cause of death from cancer in women. But for the first time
in history, we have the potential for significantly reducing, if not
eliminating, the number of victims of this cancer through advancements
in treatments and procedures that aid in prevention.
So in keeping with the goals and the ideals of Cervical Health
Awareness Month, I encourage the people of the United States to learn
about cervical cancer, its causes and its treatments, and I encourage
health care advocates to continue to raise public awareness about
cervical cancer and the importance of early detection, because the
earlier cervical cancer is detected, the better the chance a woman has
in surviving cervical cancer.
Once again, I would like to thank you all for allowing H. Res. 1011
to come to the floor today, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor
of its passage.
Mr. BURGESS. As a fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists before I came to Congress, I recognize the importance of
Cervical Health Awareness Month. And yes, while we are focusing on
testing today, the gentlelady is quite correct in that newer tests,
newer methods, newer abilities to prevent this disease from happening
are occurring even as we speak.
Certainly to the health care community out there that has done such a
great job at providing information to their patients, providing early
detection and treatment to their patients, we owe a debt of gratitude.
The work is not yet done, and I again encourage passage of this
legislation.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong
support of H. Res. 1011, to recognize the importance of cervical health
and of detecting cervical cancer during its earliest stages and
supporting the goals and ideals of Cervical Health Awareness Month,
introduced by my distinguish colleague Representative Deborah L.
Halvorson, from Illinois. This legislation will solidify that we, the
United States Congress: (1) support all the initiatives of Cervical
Health Awareness Month; (2) Recognize the importance of earlier
detection; and (3) advocate and encourage education on the subject.
Madam Speaker, the origin of Cervical Health Awareness Month was
established to enhance awareness of the prevention of cervical cancer,
particularly the importance of screening for this malignancy. It is my
hope that Congress continues to support these current and future
efforts to make our constituents more knowledgeable.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
in 2009, an estimated 11,270 new cases of cervical cancer were
diagnosed in the U.S., and the disease caused over 4,000 deaths. The
Pap test is a highly effective tool in detecting cervical cancer at its
earliest and most treatable stages. In fact, regular cervical screening
tests can actually find precancerous changes before they become
dangerous and turn into cancer.
I support any enterprise which cultivates organized successful health
promotion events and campaigns. Getting new ideas, information and
resources on Cervical Cancer and the prevention of it, is something
that this Congress must emphasize.
By passing this resolution, we are making a monumental statement that
we care. We care about the patients and survivors of this cancer; we
care about the families of the ones who were taken by this disease; and
most of all we care about the life and life more abundantly. By passing
this legislation, we are also reaffirming that Congress is not an
ambiguous body of unsympathetic individuals with no grasp of the world
outside these walls. We have families; we have mothers, daughters and
sisters, that can be affected by this cancer and we will not stand for
lives perishing because of a lack of knowledge and available prevention
and treatment!
Mr. BURGESS. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam 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
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1011.
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. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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.
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