[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 104 (Thursday, June 20, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S4179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 258--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF MAY 
            2019 AS ``NATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. Markey, Ms. Collins, Mr. Van Hollen, and 
Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 258

       Whereas an estimated 86,970 new cases of primary brain 
     tumors are expected to be diagnosed in the United States 
     during calendar year 2019;
       Whereas pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of 
     death from cancer in children under the age of 19;
       Whereas the average survival rate in the United States for 
     all malignant brain tumor patients is only 35 percent;
       Whereas, in 2019, an estimated 16,830 people in the United 
     States will die as a result of a malignant brain tumor;
       Whereas brain tumors may be malignant or benign, but can be 
     life-threatening in either case;
       Whereas nearly 700,000 people in the United States are 
     currently living with a brain tumor;
       Whereas treatment of brain tumors is complicated by the 
     fact that there are more than 130 different types of brain 
     tumors;
       Whereas the treatment and removal of brain tumors present 
     significant challenges due to the uniquely complex and 
     fragile nature of the brain;
       Whereas brain tumors affect the primary organ in the human 
     body that controls not only cognitive ability, but the 
     actions of every other organ and limb in the body, leading to 
     brain tumors being described as a disease that affects the 
     whole individual;
       Whereas brain tumor research is supported by a number of 
     private, nonprofit research foundations and by Federal 
     medical research institutions;
       Whereas basic research may fuel advancements and 
     development of new treatments for brain tumors;
       Whereas obstacles to the development of new treatments for 
     brain tumors remain, and there are limited strategies for the 
     screening or early detection of brain tumors;
       Whereas, despite the high number of individuals diagnosed 
     with a brain tumor every year and the devastating prognoses 
     for such individuals, only 5 drugs and 1 medical device are 
     approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat brain 
     tumors;
       Whereas the mortality rates associated with brain tumors 
     have changed little during the past 30 years;
       Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of 
     brain tumors, including the difficulties associated with 
     research on these tumors and the opportunities for advances 
     in brain tumor research and treatment; and
       Whereas May 2019, during which brain tumor advocates 
     nationwide unite in awareness, outreach, and advocacy 
     activities, is an appropriate month to recognize as 
     ``National Brain Tumor Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of May 2019 as ``National 
     Brain Tumor Awareness Month'';
       (2) encourages increased public awareness of brain tumors 
     to honor those individuals who have lost their lives to this 
     devastating disease or currently live with a brain tumor 
     diagnosis;
       (3) supports efforts to develop better treatments for brain 
     tumors that will improve the quality of life and the long-
     term prognoses of those individuals diagnosed with a brain 
     tumor;
       (4) expresses its support for those individuals who are 
     battling brain tumors, as well as the families, friends, and 
     caregivers of those individuals; and
       (5) urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research, 
     which is a promising means of advancing understanding of, and 
     treatment for, brain tumors.

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