[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 13, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 144--SUPPORTING EARLY DETECTION FOR BREAST CANCER

  Mrs. HUTCHISON submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 144

       Whereas the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer 
     has increased from 74 percent in 1979 to 90 percent in 2011;
       Whereas when breast cancer is detected early and confined 
     to the breast, the 5-year relative survival rate is 98 
     percent;
       Whereas the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early 
     Detection Program (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``NBCCEDP'') was established by the Breast and Cervical 
     Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 300k et 
     seq.) to provide early detection services for low-income 
     women who are uninsured or underinsured and do not qualify 
     for Medicaid;
       Whereas the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and 
     Treatment Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-354; 114 Stat. 1381) 
     allows for breast cancer treatment assistance to be provided 
     through Medicaid to eligible women who were screened through 
     the NBCCEDP;
       Whereas NBCCEDP and the provisions of the Breast and 
     Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 (Public 
     Law 106-354; 114 Stat. 1381) have effectively reduced 
     mortality among low-income uninsured and medically 
     underserved women with breast cancer;
       Whereas early detection of breast cancer increases survival 
     rates for the disease, as evidenced by a 5-year relative 
     survival rate of 98 percent for breast cancers that are 
     discovered before the cancer spreads beyond the breast, 
     compared to 23 percent for stage IV breast cancers;
       Whereas the cost of treating stage IV breast cancers is 
     more than 5 times more expensive than the cost of treating 
     stage I breast cancers;
       Whereas as of the date of agreement to this resolution, the 
     economy has placed a strain on State budgets while increasing 
     the demand for safety-net services;
       Whereas significant disparities in breast cancer outcomes 
     persist across racial and ethnic groups;
       Whereas breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed 
     cancer and is the leading cause of cancer death among women 
     worldwide;
       Whereas in 2011, more than 200,000 women and men will be 
     diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die of 
     breast cancer in the United States;
       Whereas every woman should have access to life-saving 
     screening and treatment that is not dependent on where she 
     lives;
       Whereas investments in cancer research have improved the 
     understanding of the different types of breast cancer and led 
     to more effective, personalized treatments; and
       Whereas organizations such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure 
     empower women with knowledge and awareness, ensure access to 
     quality care, and energize science to discover and deliver 
     cures for breast cancer: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) remains committed to ensuring access to life-saving 
     breast cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services, 
     particularly for medically underserved women;
       (2) supports increasing awareness and improving education 
     about breast cancer, the importance of early detection, and 
     the availability of screening services for women in need; and
       (3) remains committed to discovering and delivering cures 
     for breast cancer and encouraging the development of 
     screening tools that are more accurate and less costly.

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