[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6854-H6855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING BLOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1433) expressing support for designation of
September 2010 as Blood Cancer Awareness Month, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1433
Whereas blood-related cancers currently afflict more than
900,000 people in the United States, with an estimated
150,000 new cases diagnosed each year;
Whereas leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma,
myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative disorders
will kill more than 50,000 people in the United States this
year;
Whereas Congress, in the National Cancer Act, established
an aggressive Federal program for the diagnosis, prevention,
and treatment of cancer;
Whereas Congress has maintained a steady investment in
cancer research to answer basic questions about the causes of
cancer and to develop new treatments for cancer;
Whereas the Federal investment in cancer research and
control has contributed to important progress in
understanding and treating some blood cancers and yielded
significant advances in survival for some forms of blood
cancer;
Whereas continued investment and innovation is critical to
the early diagnosis and the more effective and safer
treatment for blood cancers where research and treatment
advances have to date been limited;
Whereas strategies to enhance and strengthen the cancer
clinical research program and boost participation in clinical
trials are necessary to achieve blood cancer treatment
advances;
Whereas survivors of blood cancer may experience serious
late and long-term effects of their treatment and may need
life-long follow-up and survivorship care;
Whereas Congress has provided strong support to blood
cancer research and has focused special attention on
increasing awareness of blood cancers and intensifying the
blood cancer research program;
Whereas the House of Representatives will continue to
provide support for research for a cure for leukemia,
lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, and
myeloproliferative disorders; and
Whereas September 2010 would be an appropriate month to
designate as Blood Cancer Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of Blood Cancer Awareness
Month to enhance the understanding of blood-related cancers,
increase support for funding research to find a cure for
blood cancers, encourage studies of the cause and prevention
of blood cancers to reduce the number of new cases, and
enhance understanding of clinical trials to boost provider
and patient participation and accelerate the pace of clinical
research;
(2) encourages participation in voluntary activities to
support blood cancer research and education; and
(3) respectfully requests the Clerk of the House to
transmit a copy of this resolution to the American Society of
Hematology, the International Myeloma Foundation, the
Lymphoma Research Foundation, the Multiple Myeloma Research
Foundation, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, voluntary
health organizations dedicated to finding a cure for blood
cancers.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as she may
consume to the lead Democratic sponsor of the bill, the gentlewoman
from Colorado (Ms. Markey).
Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this
resolution raising awareness of blood cancers. I would like to thank
the Representative from North Carolina for his work to bring this
important resolution to the House.
Nearly 1 million people are currently afflicted with blood cancers in
the United States and 150,000 are newly diagnosed each year. With these
numbers, we probably all know someone whose life will be affected.
I was inspired to work on this important resolution by my staff and
interns, many of whom have personal experiences with leukemia and other
blood cancers. It is inspiring to see their commitment to increasing
awareness, such as my staff member, Marissa Smith, who dedicated her
free time in honor of a friend's mother and ran a half marathon with
the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Raising awareness of blood cancers through the designation of
September as Blood Cancer Awareness Month will help ensure that we keep
in mind their widespread impact and the importance of ample Federal
research for funding, education, and research.
I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important
resolution.
Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today in support of House
Resolution 1433, expressing support for the designation of September
2010 as Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
At this time I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), who was the primary sponsor of this
legislation and who has been a real leader on cancer awareness in the
U.S. Congress.
Mr. JONES. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I want to also thank Betsy Markey, who just spoke, from Colorado. She
has worked with me hand in glove, as we should do more times than not,
on the House floor, to be honest about it, and we were able to get over
130 cosponsors.
As she said, this year more than 50,000 people in this country will
die from blood-related disorder.
This legislation asks the House to support this designation of
September as Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
[[Page H6855]]
This resolution will enhance the understanding of blood-related
cancers. Researchers have recently made important advancements in blood
cancer research, but these diseases need more funding resources.
This legislation was requested by the American Society of Hematology,
the International Myeloma Foundation, the Lymphoma Research Foundation,
the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society.
Before I close, I want to thank the committee of jurisdiction, the
chairman on the floor today, for getting this legislation to the floor.
The end of September, I will be in Raleigh, North Carolina, for an
event called Walk the Night. There will be those who have been cured of
cancer blood diseases that will be walking. There will be those who
lost loved ones because of blood cancer diseases; they will also be
walking.
For this Congress to do this, I will be indebted and grateful too.
Again, I want to thank Congresswoman Betsy Markey for being a cosponsor
and thank the committees and thank the Congress and the leadership of
the House, both Democrat and Republican, for getting this to the floor.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. WHITFIELD. 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. 1433, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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