[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 116 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5051-S5052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following 
resolutions, which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 242, S. Res. 
243, S. Res. 244.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded 
to consider the resolutions en bloc.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the resolutions be agreed to, the 
preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table en bloc, without any intervening action or debate, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolutions were agreed to.
  The preambles were agreed to.
  The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:

                              S. Res. 242

 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness 
                                 Month

       Whereas ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic 
     cancers;
       Whereas ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer 
     deaths among women in the United States;
       Whereas almost 21,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian 
     cancer in 2011, and 15,000 will die from the disease;
       Whereas these deaths are those of our mothers, sisters, 
     daughters, family members, and community leaders;
       Whereas the mortality rate for ovarian cancer has not 
     significantly decreased since the ``War on Cancer'' was 
     declared 40 years ago;
       Whereas all women are at risk for ovarian cancer, and 90 
     percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer do not have a 
     family history that puts them at a higher risk;
       Whereas some women, such as those with a family history of 
     breast or ovarian cancer, are at a higher risk for the 
     disease;
       Whereas the pap test is sensitive and specific to the early 
     detection of cervical cancer, but not ovarian cancer;
       Whereas there is currently no reliable early detection test 
     for ovarian cancer;
       Whereas many people are unaware that the symptoms of 
     ovarian cancer often include bloating, pelvic or abdominal 
     pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary 
     symptoms, and several other symptoms that are easily confused 
     with other diseases;
       Whereas in June 2007, the first national consensus 
     statement on ovarian cancer symptoms was developed to provide 
     consistency in describing symptoms to make it easier for 
     women to learn and remember the symptoms;
       Whereas there are known methods to reduce the risk of 
     ovarian cancer, including prophylactic surgery, oral 
     contraceptives, and breast-feeding;
       Whereas, due to the lack of a reliable early detection 
     test, 75 percent of cases of ovarian cancer are detected at 
     an advanced stage, making the overall 5-year survival rate 
     only 45 percent;
       Whereas there are factors that are known to reduce the risk 
     for ovarian cancer and that play an important role in the 
     prevention of the disease;
       Whereas awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer by 
     women and health care providers can lead to a quicker 
     diagnosis;
       Whereas, each year during the month of September, the 
     Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and its partner members hold 
     a number of events to increase public awareness of ovarian 
     cancer; and
       Whereas September 2011 should be designated as ``National 
     Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month'' to increase public awareness 
     of ovarian cancer: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports the goals and ideals of 
     National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

                              S. Res. 243

   Promoting increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial 
 fibrillation to address the high morbidity and mortality rates and to 
     prevent avoidable hospitalizations associated with the disease

       Whereas atrial fibrillation is a cardiac condition that 
     results when the usual coordinated electrical activity in the 
     atria of the heart becomes disorganized and chaotic, 
     hampering the ability of the atria to fill the ventricles 
     with blood, and allowing blood to pool in the atria and form 
     clots;
       Whereas an estimated 2,500,000 people in the United States 
     are living with atrial fibrillation, the most common 
     ``serious'' heart rhythm abnormality that occurs in people 
     older than 65 years of age;
       Whereas atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased 
     long-term risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause 
     mortality, especially among women;
       Whereas people older than 40 years of age have a 1-in-4 
     risk of developing atrial fibrillation in their lifetime;
       Whereas an estimated 15 percent of strokes are the result 
     of untreated atrial fibrillation, a condition that 
     dramatically increases the risk of stroke to approximately 5 
     times more than the general population;
       Whereas atrial fibrillation accounts for approximately 
     529,000 hospital discharges annually;
       Whereas atrial fibrillation costs an estimated $3,600 per 
     patient for a total cost burden in the United States of 
     $15,700,000,000;
       Whereas better patient and health care provider education 
     is needed for the timely recognition of atrial fibrillation 
     symptoms;
       Whereas an electrocardiogram is an effective and risk-free 
     screen for heart rhythm irregularities and can be part of a 
     routine preventive exam;
       Whereas there is a dearth of outcome performance measures 
     that focus on the management of atrial fibrillation; and
       Whereas evidence-based care guidelines improve patient 
     outcomes and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations for 
     individuals with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation and for 
     patients once atrial fibrillation is detected: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services should work with 
     leaders in the medical community to explore ways to improve 
     medical research, screening and prevention methods, and 
     surveillance efforts in order to prevent and appropriately 
     manage atrial fibrillation, including by--
       (1) advancing the development of process and outcome 
     measures for the management of atrial fibrillation by 
     national developers;
       (2) facilitating the adoption of evidence-based guidelines 
     by the medical community to improve patient outcomes;
       (3) advancing atrial fibrillation research and education 
     by--
       (A) encouraging basic science research to determine the 
     causes and optimal treatments for atrial fibrillation;
       (B) exploring development of screening tools and protocols 
     to determine the risk of developing atrial fibrillation; and
       (C) enhancing current surveillance and tracking systems to 
     include atrial fibrillation; and
       (4) improving access to appropriate medical care for 
     patients suffering from atrial fibrillation by encouraging 
     education programs that promote collaboration among the 
     Federal health agencies and that increase public and 
     clinician awareness of atrial fibrillation, including risk 
     assessment, screening, treatment, and appropriate clinical 
     management.

[[Page S5052]]

                              S. Res. 244

Congratulating Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for 100 years of service 
    to communities throughout the United States and the world, and 
   commending Omega Psi Phi for upholding its cardinal principles of 
             manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift

       Whereas Omega Psi Phi is the first international fraternal 
     organization to be founded on the campus of a historically 
     black college;
       Whereas Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at 
     Howard University in Washington, District of Columbia, on 
     November 17, 1911, by undergraduates Oscar James Cooper, 
     M.D., Frank Coleman, Ph.D., and Edgar Amos Love, D.D., and 
     their faculty advisor Ernest Everett Just, Ph.D.;
       Whereas, on November 17, 2011, Omega Psi Phi will celebrate 
     100 years of service to communities throughout the United 
     States and the world in many diverse fields of endeavor;
       Whereas, in 2011, Omega Psi Phi has more than 700 chapters 
     throughout the United States, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the 
     Virgin Islands, South Korea, Japan, Liberia, Germany, and 
     Kuwait;
       Whereas Omega Psi Phi has maintained a commitment to the 
     betterment of mankind, the enhancement of the community, and 
     the enrichment of collegiate men through dedication to its 
     cardinal principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, 
     and uplift;
       Whereas Omega Psi Phi chapters participate in activities 
     that uplift their communities, including voter registration, 
     illiteracy awareness, Habitat for Humanity, health awareness 
     programs, and youth mentoring;
       Whereas the men of Omega Psi Phi have distinguished 
     themselves in the field of science, including Dr. Ernest 
     Everett Just, an internationally known biologist, Dr. Charles 
     Drew, who perfected the use of blood plasma, Dr. Ronald E. 
     McNair, an astronaut and member of the flight team aboard the 
     Space Shuttle Challenger, Charles Bolden, an astronaut and 
     the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, and Dr. Fred Drew Gregory, an astronaut and 
     graduate of the United States Air Force Academy;
       Whereas the men of Omega Psi Phi have distinguished 
     themselves in the field of sports, including Dr. Robert M. 
     Screen, the tennis coach at Hampton University and the coach 
     with the most wins in the history of the National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association, Michael Jordan, who was inducted into 
     the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, 
     Charlie Ward, the winner of the Heisman Trophy in 1993 and a 
     former guard with the New York Knicks of the National 
     Basketball Association, Dr. LeRoy Walker, a former president 
     of the United States Olympic Committee, and Terrance 
     Trammell, a world champion hurdler;
       Whereas the men of Omega Psi Phi have distinguished 
     themselves in the field of government, including William 
     Hastie, the first Governor of the Virgin Islands, Lawrence 
     Douglas Wilder, the first black Governor of Virginia, Togo 
     West, a former Secretary of the Army, James E. Clyburn, a 
     Member of the House of Representatives from South Carolina 
     and the 26th Majority Whip of the House of Representatives, 
     Jesse Jackson, Jr., a Member of the House of Representatives 
     from Illinois, and Hank Johnson, a Member of the House of 
     Representatives from Georgia;
       Whereas the men of Omega Psi Phi have distinguished 
     themselves in the field of the arts, including Langston 
     Hughes, the poet laureate who excelled as a poet, playwright, 
     novelist, lyricist, and humorist, and William ``Count'' 
     Basie, an internationally known pianist, composer, arranger, 
     and band leader; and
       Whereas Omega Psi Phi will commemorate its history and 
     promote its continued success at its centennial celebration 
     to be held July 27 through July 31, 2011, in Washington, 
     District of Columbia: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for 100 
     years of service to communities throughout the United States 
     and the world; and
       (2) commends Omega Psi Phi for upholding its cardinal 
     principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift.

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HOEVEN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________