[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER IS CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND THE LIFE 
                            OF AMANDA CONROW

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                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 2016

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to observe September as 
National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This year over 16,000 
children and adolescents will be diagnosed with cancer. This horrifying 
disease does not know race, nationality, religion, gender, or socio-
economic status. As a mother and a grandmother, one of my greatest 
hopes is that one day every person can live a healthy, long life 
without the fear of cancer. I'm especially proud that a bill I wrote, 
the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), is now playing a 
leading role in much of the cancer research being done across the 
country today, after a 14 year fight to get it signed into law.
  Eliminating childhood cancer is one issue that I am grateful to see 
is bipartisan. As a member of the Congressional Childhood Cancer 
Caucus, I am proud to work with my friends on both sides of the aisle 
to advocate and support robust funding for research to prevent the 
suffering and long-term effects of childhood cancer.
  With significant advances in medicine in the past 40 years, the 
mortality rate for childhood cancer has declined by more than 50 
percent. Still, 1,250 children may lose their battle with cancer by the 
end of this year. We must continue to push for robust funding for 
institutions such as the National Institutes of Health and the National 
Cancer Institute. We must work to increase awareness for early 
detection and support those in our community who face this reality with 
our compassion and support.
  Further, Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to the extraordinary life 
of Rochester's own Amanda Conrow. In 2012, when she was just three 
years old, Amanda was diagnosed with ependymoma, a cancer of the brain 
and central nervous system. Doctors told Amanda's parents she would 
maybe live another year. Amanda, like so many other courageous 
children, proved the doctors wrong. With the support and love of her 
mother Liz, her father Paul, and her amazing siblings Samantha, 
Michael, Jessica and Emily, Amanda lived to see her sixth birthday. Her 
determination and tenaciousness inspired many in the community and 
helped to bring awareness to childhood cancer in the Rochester area. 
Sadly, Amanda lost her battle in the early hours of February 8, 2015.
  Mr. Speaker, let us all be inspired by Amanda's life and the courage 
and bravery of every child facing this disease. It is my deepest hope 
that we can support the work of doctors and researchers that are 
committed to working tirelessly so that one day we will achieve the 
ultimate goal of eliminating cancer as a threat to all.

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