[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 142 (Tuesday, November 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN SUPPORT OF LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

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                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 6, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Lung Cancer 
Awareness Month because lung cancer is a devastating disease that 
affects thousands of Americans every year.
  Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. This year, as in the 
past, lung cancer will kill more Americans than any other cancer. In 
fact, lung cancer will claim more lives than the next four leading 
cancer killers--breast, prostate, colon and pancreas cancers--combined.
  Mr. Speaker, in the United States, about 213,000 people are diagnosed 
with lung cancer every year and more than 160,000 die from it. Lung 
cancer tends to be diagnosed later in smokers than in non smokers 
because the symptoms of the disease are common among smokers. Late 
diagnosis of the disease also makes it a lot more challenging to treat 
and in some cases too late to cure.
  Mr. Speaker, Lung Cancer Awareness Month allows us to pay tribute to 
the extraordinary health workers who dedicate their lives to fighting 
this disease. This month we also take the opportunity to support the 
patients and their families who are affected by lung cancer.
  For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of Lung 
Cancer Awareness Month as well as to join me as a cosponsor of H.R. 
1394, the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2011.
  The Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2011 amends the Public 
Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to implement a comprehensive program to achieve a 50 percent 
reduction in the mortality rate of lung cancer by 2020. It requires the 
program to include initiatives throughout HHS, including: (1) a 
strategic review and prioritization by the National Cancer Institute of 
research grants; (2) the establishment by the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) of quality standards and guidelines for facilities 
that conduct computed tomography screening for lung cancer; and (3) the 
provision of funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) to establish a Lung Cancer Early Detection Program that provides 
low-income, uninsured, and underserved populations that are at high 
risk for lung cancer access to early detection services.
  The Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2011 requires the 
Secretary of Defense (DOD) and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
to coordinate with the Secretary of HHS in implementing this Act and 
implementing coordinated care programs for military personnel and 
veterans diagnosed with lung cancer. It also requires the Secretary of 
HHS to establish: (1) the Lung Cancer Computed Tomography Screening and 
Treatment Demonstration Project; and (2) the Lung Cancer Advisory Board 
to monitor the programs established under this Act.

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