[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 16, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5630-S5631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mr. Sessions):
  S. 2813. A bill to establish the National Prostate Cancer Council for 
improved screening, early detection, assessment, and monitoring of 
prostate cancer, and to direct the development and implementation of a 
national strategic plan to expedite advancement of diagnostic tools and 
the transfer of such tools to patients; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am proud to introduce the National 
Prostate Cancer Council Act with my colleague, Senator Sessions. This 
bipartisan legislation addresses the urgent need for a national 
strategy for the accelerated creation, advancement, and testing of 
diagnostic tools to be used in the fight against prostate cancer.
  Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in the United 
States, and the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in men. 
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2014, 233,000 new cases 
of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and almost 30,000 men will die 
from the disease.
  Early detection of prostate cancer saves lives. Unfortunately, 
current screening techniques result in numerous false-negatives, 
leaving men at risk to wrongly believe they are cancer-free, and false-
positive alarms, which often lead to painful, costly, and unnecessary 
procedures. In addition, the prostate is one of the few organs in the 
human body where biopsies are performed blindly, which can miss cancer 
even when multiple samples are taken.
  The National Prostate Cancer Council Act mirrors the commitment the 
Federal government has made to fight Alzheimer's disease under the 
National Alzheimer's Project Act, which was signed into law in 2011. 
Similarly, this bill will bring together federal agencies, medical and 
scientific experts, advocacy organizations, and patient survivors to 
create a clear national plan for achieving the ultimate goal developing 
reliable tests that can detect prostate cancer and diagnose its 
severity.
  The National Prostate Cancer Council will evaluate our current 
efforts across all Federal agencies, and it will coordinate those 
efforts to be more effective. Congress and the Department of Health and 
Human Services will receive a report from the Council each year 
detailing the progress made toward fulfilling the national plan.
  A national strategy and commitment can be the key to diagnosing 
prostate cancer earlier and more accurately. It will help us identify 
the best use of our resources and focus on the most pressing needs, 
ultimately saving lives and reducing unnecessary procedures. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this effort, and to cosponsor this 
legislation.

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