[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7194-H7195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GYNECOLOGIC CANCER EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ACT
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2941) to reauthorize and enhance Johanna's Law to increase
public awareness and knowledge with respect to gynecologic cancers, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2941
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF JOHANNA'S LAW.
(a) In General.--Section 317P(d) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-17(d)(4)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by inserting after ``2009'' the
following: ``and $18,000,000 for the period of fiscal years
2012 through 2014''; and
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6).
(b) Consultation With Nonprofit Gynecologic Cancer
Organizations.--Section 317P(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-
17(d)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by
inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Consultation with nonprofit gynecologic cancer
organizations.--In carrying out the national campaign under
this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the leading
nonprofit gynecologic cancer organizations, with a mission
both to conquer ovarian or other gynecologic cancer
nationwide and to provide outreach to State and local
governments and communities, for the purpose of determining
the best practices for providing gynecologic cancer
information and outreach services to varied populations.''.
SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS REGARDING OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION STRATEGIES RELATING TO GYNECOLOGIC
CANCER.
(a) In General.--Section 317P(d) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-17(d)), as amended by section 1,
is further amended by inserting after paragraph (4) the
following:
``(5) Demonstration projects regarding outreach and
education strategies.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may carry out a program to
award grants or contracts to public or nonprofit private
entities for the purpose of carrying out demonstration
projects to test and compare different evidence-based
outreach and education strategies to increase the awareness
and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect
to gynecologic cancers, including early warning signs, risk
factors, prevention, screening, and treatment options. Such
strategies shall include efforts directed at women and their
families, physicians, nurses, and key health professionals.
``(B) Preferences in awarding grants or contracts.--In
making awards under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
give preference to--
``(i) applicants with demonstrated expertise in gynecologic
cancer education or treatment or in working with groups of
women who are at increased risk of gynecologic cancers; and
``(ii) applicants that, in the demonstration project funded
by the grant or contract, will establish linkages between
physicians, nurses, and key health professionals, health
profession students, hospitals, payers, and State health
departments.
``(C) Application.--To seek a grant or contract under
subparagraph (A), an entity shall submit an application to
the Secretary in such form, in such manner, and containing
such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary
determines to be necessary to carry out this paragraph.
``(D) Certain requirements.--In making awards under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--
``(i) make awards, as practicable, to not fewer than five
applicants; and
``(ii) ensure that information provided through
demonstration projects under this paragraph is consistent
with the best available medical information.
``(E) Report to congress.--Not later than 12 months after
the date of the enactment of this paragraph, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a
report that--
``(i) summarizes the activities of demonstration projects
under subparagraph (A);
``(ii) evaluates the extent to which the projects were
effective in increasing early detection of gynecologic
cancers and awareness and knowledge of risk factors and early
warning signs in the populations to which the projects were
directed; and
``(iii) identifies barriers to early detection and
appropriate treatment of such cancers.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 317P(d)(3)(A) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-17(d)(3)(A)) is
amended by inserting ``(other than paragraph (5))'' after
``this section''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, 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. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise this evening in strong support of H.R. 2941, a bill to
reauthorize Johanna's law. The bill reauthorizes an existing CDC
program to promote awareness and outreach of gynecological cancers
among women and health care providers.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 2941, a law to reauthorize Johanna's Law, was actually signed
into law at the end of the 109th Congress and directed Health and Human
Services to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness of
gynecological cancer.
Gynecological cancer of the female reproductive tract affected, in
2006, over 76,000 women, and 27,000 died from their disease. H.R. 2941
would authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to
continue the nationwide campaign.
This bill also calls for the Secretary of Health and Human Services
to award grants to nonprofit private entities to carry out
demonstration projects. These projects would test outreach and
education strategies to increase the awareness and knowledge of women
and health care provided regarding gynecologic cancer.
I am a cosponsor of the legislation. I urge my colleagues to support
it.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of
H.R. 2941, a bill to reauthorize and enhance Johanna's Law to increase
public awareness and knowledge with respect to gynecologic cancers. I
would like to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and
Commerce Committee for bringing this vitally important bill to the
Floor. I would also like to thank Representative Rosa DeLauro and
Representative Darrell Issa who have been tireless champions of this
bill. I am proud to have worked with them to enact the ``Gynecologic
Cancer Education and Awareness Act''--also known as Johanna's Law--back
in 2006; and I am proud to be a part of their efforts this year to
reauthorize and enhance this program.
I first got involved in the fight against gynecologic cancer when Ms.
Kolleen Stacey, a constituent of mine, who became a dear, dear friend,
told me about her personal battle with ovarian cancer--the deadliest of
the gynecological cancers. Kolleen told me about Johanna's Law,
convinced me to become a co-sponsor; and she never stopped pushing me
to get the bill signed into law; because she never wanted any other
woman to go through what she was going through.
It took more than two years and a lot of hard work but in 2006,
Johanna's Law became law and this country took a huge step forward
towards fulfilling Kolleen's dream. On July 10, 2009, Kolleen
tragically lost her fight with ovarian cancer. But I know that she is
looking down on us today and smiling because her dream lives on in our
actions today. God bless you Kolleen.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 21,880 new cases of
ovarian cancer will be diagnosed and 13,850 deaths are expected to be
caused by ovarian cancer in the United States in 2010 alone. For the
State of Indiana, The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2010,
450 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 300 women will die
of ovarian cancer.
This is a tragedy. Research shows that many of those deaths could be
prevented if
[[Page H7195]]
more women knew the risk factors and recognized the early symptoms of
gynecologic cancers so that they could discuss them with their doctors.
Ovarian cancer has a 93 percent five-year survival rate if detected in
Stage One and only a 27 percent survival rate if detected in Stage
Three or Four.
Yet, the majority of women and medical professionals are unaware of
the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Women can go undiagnosed or
misdiagnosed for years, like Kolleen Stacey. Just over five years ago
on September 5, 2005, Kolleen testified before Congress about the need
for legislation for added awareness and education on gynecological
cancers. ``It took an entire year for me to be diagnosed correctly. By
then the cancer was Stage IIIC, an advanced stage of ovarian cancer
with only a 38 percent chance of complete cure. Had it been discovered
in an early stage, I would have had a 90 percent chance of complete
cure.''
That is why, in December 2006, Congress passed Johanna's Law, named
for Johanna Silver Gordon, who lost her life to ovarian cancer despite
being a health conscious woman who visited the gynecologist regularly.
Like many women, Johanna had symptoms of ovarian cancer that were
missed by both her and her healthcare provider.
Johanna's Law authorized the Centers for Disease Control to create a
gynecologic cancer awareness campaign aimed at educating women and
health care providers about the signs and symptoms of gynecologic
cancers--bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or
feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency). The
campaign, Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer,
seeks to raise awareness of the five main types of gynecologic cancer:
ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal and vulvar. To date, the Inside
Knowledge campaign has supported many activities, including the
development of:
Cancer-specific fact sheets about gynecologic cancers in both English
and Spanish,
A comprehensive gynecologic cancer brochure,
Formative research and concept testing using focus groups to better
understand the target audience,
Materials for primary care and health care professionals, and
Print and broadcast Public Service Announcements (PSAs).
All materials created through Johanna's Law have been sent to
television, radio and print outlets around the country. The CDC is
tracking the airing of PSAs and audience impressions. The CDC is also
reaching out to groups, encouraging the use of the materials.
We still have a long way to go but Johanna's law is making a
difference. Doctors, nurses and cancer survivors agree--providing more
information about gynecologic cancers saves women's lives.
H.R. 2941 reauthorizes and enhances this critically important
awareness campaign. This legislation provides for the continuation of
the education campaign started by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention to increase the awareness and knowledge of health care
providers and women with respect to gynecological cancers. It also
enhances cooperation with non-governmental organizations carrying out
complementary education and awareness campaigns.
H.R. 2941 is a good bill, it is good public policy. I urge my
colleagues to support this bill, and I urge our colleagues in the
Senate to act quickly and move this critically needed legislation to
the President's desk for his signature. This is literally a matter of
life and death.
Mr. BURGESS. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. I yield back the balance of my time and urge passage of
the bill.
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 pass the bill, H.R. 2941, as amended.
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. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
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.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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