[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 173 (Wednesday, January 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 2, 2013

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Defense 
Authorization Act which contains a very special provision, the 
Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act.
  I first introduced this bill in the 110th Congress in honor of my 
dear friend, Ambassador Richard Sklar, who was a victim of pancreatic 
cancer, a devastating disease. Pancreatic cancer is essentially a death 
sentence, with very few surviving. It is only because of the families, 
friends, neighbors, doctors, and co-workers who have advocated for 
better research and treatments, that we've made it to the ``finish 
line'' legislatively after a five-year effort.
  Sadly, the outcomes for those with pancreatic cancer have remained 
relatively unchanged since the passage of the National Cancer Act more 
than 40 years ago. Only 6 percent of people diagnosed with the disease 
live longer than 5 years, and 75 percent die within a year of 
diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal types of 
cancers, even as survival rates for other cancers have increased.
  The Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, which I introduced with my 
colleague, Representative Leonard Lance, directs the National Cancer 
Institute to develop a long-term strategic plan for addressing 
recalcitrant cancers beginning with pancreatic and lung cancers. The 
plan will bring together the finest minds in our country with the best 
expertise in this area. The plans will be used by the Agency as a 
roadmap for navigating the best way forward in research for early 
detection, new diagnostic tools, treatment therapies, and even cures.
  While pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating of all 
``recalcitrant cancers,'' or those with a high mortality rate and few 
treatments, it is certainly not the only one that needs increased 
attention. I have worked closely with my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle to expand our legislation to include all recalcitrant cancers 
so that we can make progress in other areas, too.
  I am exceedingly proud that this legislation enjoyed the bipartisan 
cosponsorship of 294 Members of the House and more than half the U.S. 
Senate with 58 bipartisan cosponsors. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse 
championed the legislation with his steadfast leadership, and without 
him, this effort would not have ultimately been successful.
  I thank Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman of the Energy and 
Commerce Committee for their work in moving the bill forward. I'm very 
proud of the efforts of the pancreatic cancer advocates who had the 
courage to share their stories with their representatives, educating 
them about the importance of this legislation.
  I look forward to seeing the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act signed 
into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act so we can 
finally bring a renewed effort to finding cures for all recalcitrant 
cancers.

                          ____________________