[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 87 (Thursday, May 23, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 223--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF MAY 
  17, 2019, AS ``DIPG PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER AWARENESS DAY'' TO RAISE 
AWARENESS OF AND ENCOURAGE RESEARCH ON DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA 
                TUMORS AND PEDIATRIC CANCERS IN GENERAL

  Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Casey) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 223

       Whereas diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (referred to in 
     this preamble as ``DIPG'') tumors regularly affect 200 to 400 
     children in the United States each year;
       Whereas brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-
     related death among children;
       Whereas, during childhood, DIPG tumors are--
       (1) the second most common type of malignant brain tumor; 
     and
       (2) the leading cause of pediatric brain cancer deaths;
       Whereas, with respect to a child who is diagnosed with a 
     DIPG tumor and receives treatment for a DIPG tumor, the 
     median amount of time that the child survives after diagnosis 
     is only 9 months;
       Whereas, with respect to an individual who is diagnosed 
     with a DIPG tumor, the rate of survival 5 years after 
     diagnosis is approximately 2 percent;
       Whereas the average age at which a child is diagnosed with 
     a DIPG tumor is between 5 and 9 years, resulting in a life 
     expectancy approximately 70 years shorter than the average 
     life expectancy in the United States; and
       Whereas the prognosis for children diagnosed with DIPG 
     tumors has not improved over the past 40 years: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports--
       (A) designating May 17, 2019, as ``DIPG Pediatric Brain 
     Cancer Awareness Day''; and
       (B) efforts--
       (i) to better understand diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma 
     tumors;
       (ii) to develop effective treatments for diffuse intrinsic 
     pontine glioma tumors; and
       (iii) to provide comprehensive care for children with 
     diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors and their families; 
     and
       (2) encourages all individuals in the United States to 
     become more informed about--
       (A) diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors;
       (B) pediatric brain cancer in general; and
       (C) challenges relating to research on pediatric cancers 
     and ways to advance such research.

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