[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 113 (Thursday, July 26, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S5493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 529--RECOGNIZING THAT THE OCCURRENCE OF PROSTATE 
  CANCER IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN HAS REACHED EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS AND 
  URGING FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ADDRESS THAT HEALTH CRISIS BY SUPPORTING 
EDUCATION, AWARENESS OUTREACH, AND RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON HOW 
              PROSTATE CANCER AFFECTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN

  Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Wyden, Mr. 
Akaka, and Mr. Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 529

       Whereas the incidence of prostate cancer in African-
     American men is more than one and a half times higher than in 
     any other racial or ethnic group in the United States;
       Whereas African-American men have the highest mortality 
     rate of any ethnic and racial group in the United States, 
     dying at a rate that is approximately two and a half times 
     higher than other ethnic and racial groups;
       Whereas that rate of mortality represents the largest 
     disparity of mortality rates in any of the major cancers;
       Whereas prostate cancer can be cured with early detection 
     and the proper treatment, regardless of the ethnic or racial 
     group of the cancer patient;
       Whereas African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed 
     at an earlier age and at a later stage of cancer progression 
     than all other ethnic and racial groups, leading to lower 
     cure rates and lower chances of survival;
       Whereas, for patients diagnosed early, studies show a 5-
     year survival rate of nearly 100 percent, but the survival 
     rate drops significantly to 28 percent for patients diagnosed 
     in late stages; and
       Whereas recent genomics research has increased the ability 
     to identify men at high risk for aggressive prostate cancer: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that prostate cancer has created a health 
     crisis for African-American men;
       (2) recognizes the importance of health coverage and access 
     to care, as well as promoting informed decisionmaking between 
     men and their doctors, taking into consideration the known 
     risks and potential benefits of screening and treatment 
     options for prostate cancer;
       (3) urges Federal agencies to support--
       (A) research to address and attempt to end the health 
     crisis created by prostate cancer;
       (B) efforts relating to education, awareness, and early 
     detection at the grassroots level to end that health crisis; 
     and
       (C) the Office of Minority Health of the Department of 
     Health and Human Services in focusing on improving health and 
     healthcare outcomes for African Americans at an elevated risk 
     of prostate cancer; and
       (4) urges investment by Federal agencies in research 
     focusing on the improvement of early detection and treatment 
     of prostate cancer, such as the use of--
       (A) biomarkers to accurately distinguish indolent forms of 
     prostate cancer from lethal forms; and
       (B) advanced imaging tools to ensure the best level of 
     individualized patient care.

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