[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.
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