[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 42 (Friday, March 8, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H2608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, Wednesday marked the seventh anniversary of 
the death of my father, the late Congressman Donald Payne. My father 
was a tireless advocate in this House, but he lost his life to 
colorectal cancer too early.
  That is why each year I sponsor a resolution recognizing March as 
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to educate the 
public about the disease and the need for screening. I introduced that 
resolution on Wednesday, the anniversary of the loss of my father.
  I also introduced the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Screening Act, 
a bipartisan bill joined by Representatives Rodney Davis, Don McEachin, 
and   David McKinley as co-leads. More than 100 Members have joined on 
as cosponsors, and I hope the remaining Members will join as well.
  Mr. Speaker, when people use Medicare to get colonoscopies, they are 
hit with an unexpected bill if polyps are removed. That is a monetary 
barrier to screening, and screening saves lives. My father, 
unfortunately, did not get screened for colorectal cancer. It wasn't 
something that people of his generation did. But we can honor his 
legacy by improving education and removing barriers to screening.

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