[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 93 (Thursday, May 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S3905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 253--SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF MAY 2021 AS 
                   ``NATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH MONTH''

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Hyde-
Smith, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
Cramer, and Mr. Rounds) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 253

       Whereas, in 2021, in the United States--
       (1) cancer remains one of the most pressing public health 
     concerns;
       (2) an estimated 1,898,160 individuals are expected to be 
     diagnosed with cancer; and
       (3) an estimated 608,570 individuals are expected to die 
     from cancer;
       Whereas 39 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with 
     cancer during their lifetime;
       Whereas cancer in the United States--
       (1) as of the date of adoption of this resolution, is the 
     second most common cause of disease-related death; and
       (2) may become the primary cause of disease-related death;
       Whereas the incidence of cancer is expected to grow 
     significantly, reaching 2,300,000 cases per year by 2030;
       Whereas racial and ethnic minorities, as well as low-
     income, rural, and elderly populations, continue to suffer 
     disproportionately in cancer incidence, prevalence, and 
     mortality;
       Whereas the term ``cancer'' refers to more than 100 
     diseases that collectively represent, in the United States--
       (1) the leading cause of death for individuals under the 
     age of 85;
       (2) the second leading cause of death for all individuals; 
     and
       (3) the leading cause of disease-related death among 
     children ages 1 to 14;
       Whereas the most recent projection indicates that the 
     overall cancer-attributed costs to the United States would 
     increase more than 30 percent between 2015 and 2030 to a cost 
     of more than $245,000,000,000;
       Whereas the investment the United States has made in cancer 
     research has--
       (1) yielded substantial advances in cancer research and 
     cancer treatment; and
       (2) has saved and improved millions of lives;
       Whereas advancements in understanding the causes, 
     mechanisms, diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of cancer 
     have--
       (1) led to cures for many types of cancer; and
       (2) converted other, non-curable types of cancer into 
     manageable chronic conditions;
       Whereas the 5-year survival rate for all types of cancer 
     was more than 67 percent between 2011 and 2017;
       Whereas more than 16,900,000 survivors of cancer were 
     living in the United States in 2019;
       Whereas therapies and effective screening tools for some 
     types of cancer remain elusive, and some cancers, including 
     pancreatic, liver, lung, ovarian, and brain cancer, continue 
     to have--
       (1) extraordinarily high mortality rates; and
       (2) 5-year survival rates, for all stages of cancer 
     combined, that are typically less than 50 percent;
       Whereas partnerships among research scientists, the general 
     public, survivors of cancer, patient advocates, philanthropic 
     organizations, industry, and Federal, State, and local 
     governments have led to advanced breakthroughs for patients 
     with cancer, including early detection tools that have 
     increased survival rates and a better quality of life for 
     survivors of cancer;
       Whereas precision medicine holds great promise in treating 
     many forms of cancer;
       Whereas researchers have learned a substantial amount about 
     cancer diagnoses, treatment, and prevention from the 8 
     percent of patients who enroll in clinical trials;
       Whereas clinical trials are a key part of medical research, 
     and inclusive clinical trials with diverse participation 
     among gender, racial, and ethnic populations--
       (1) are important in achieving a comprehensive analysis of 
     cancer; and
       (2) lead to more effective treatments that improve health 
     outcomes and reduce health disparities;
       Whereas advances in cancer research have had significant 
     implications for the development of COVID-19 vaccines and the 
     treatment of other costly diseases, such as arthritis, heart 
     disease, Alzheimer's disease, and HIV/AIDS;
       Whereas 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the National 
     Cancer Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-218; 85 Stat. 778), which 
     created the National Cancer Program and strengthened the 
     National Cancer Institute (referred to in this preamble as 
     the ``NCI'') in leading the mission of the United States to 
     conquer cancer; and
       Whereas the NCI--
       (1) serves as an incubator for preeminent cancer 
     researchers;
       (2) has created 71 NCI-designated cancer centers; and
       (3) awards research grants for projects that will lead to 
     innovative treatments and groundbreaking cures: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of May 2021 as ``National 
     Cancer Research Month'';
       (2) recognizes the importance of cancer research and the 
     invaluable contributions of cancer researchers in the United 
     States and around the world who are dedicated to the conquest 
     of eliminating cancer; and
       (3) continues to support cancer research as a national and 
     international priority to eventually eliminate the more than 
     100 diseases that are referred to as cancer.

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