[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 9, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4020-S4021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 266--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF MAY 
            2021 AS ``NATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR AWARENESS MONTH''

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

                              S. Res. 266

       Whereas more than an estimated 84,000 individuals will be 
     diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in the United States in 
     2021, and an estimated 87,240 individuals in the United 
     States were diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in 2020;
       Whereas, in the United States, brain tumors are the--
       (1) leading cause of death from cancer in children who are 
     under 14 years of age and teens who are under 19 years of 
     age; and
       (2) third leading cause of death from cancer in young 
     adults who are between 20 and 39 years of age;

       Whereas the average 5-year survival rate for an individual 
     in the United States following the diagnosis of a primary 
     malignant brain tumor is only 36 percent;
       Whereas it is estimated that 18,600 individuals in the 
     United States will die as a result of a malignant brain tumor 
     in 2021;
       Whereas brain tumors may be malignant or benign but can be 
     life-threatening in either case;

[[Page S4021]]

       Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, 
     approximately 700,000 individuals in the United States are 
     living with a brain tumor;
       Whereas treatment of brain tumors is complicated by the 
     fact that more than 130 types of brain tumors exist;
       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 those 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 30-year period preceding the 
     date of introduction of this resolution;
       Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of 
     brain tumors, including the difficulties associated with 
     research on brain tumors and the opportunities for advances 
     in brain tumor research and treatment; and
       Whereas May 2021, 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 2021 as ``National 
     Brain Tumor Awareness Month'';
       (2) encourages increased public awareness of brain tumors 
     to honor the individuals who have lost their lives to a brain 
     tumor 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 individuals diagnosed with a brain tumor;
       (4) expresses its support for 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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