[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK OHIO 
                               VOLUNTEERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Beatty) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my gratitude to the 
many volunteers from Ohio's Third Congressional District who are here 
this week representing the American Cancer Society Cancer Action 
Network.
  They are working tirelessly to help end cancer for everyone. There 
are over 750 volunteers, advocates, and patients from across the 
country here, representing almost every congressional district, 
including constituents from my Third Congressional District of Ohio. 
They are selflessly donating their time and energy to fight to end 
cancer.
  Mr. Speaker, approximately 1,680 Americans die every day from cancer. 
In Ohio alone, there will be almost 24,000 cancer-related deaths this 
year, putting Ohio at the sixth highest mortality rate in the country. 
These numbers are staggering, and they serve as a sobering reminder 
that nearly all of us have had a friend or family member fight this 
disease.
  Just 2 months ago, in this very Chamber, we grieved the loss of my 
dear friend, our colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who sadly 
passed after her courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
  One of the biggest existing hurdles to beating cancer is our limited 
ability to detect it early. That is why the American Cancer Society 
Cancer Action Network volunteers from Ohio are here, advocating for 
increased funding for cancer prevention and research and for the 
passage of H.R. 2407, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer 
Early Detection Screening Coverage Act. This bill is led by my friend 
and our colleague, Congresswoman Terri Sewell. She would like to 
increase access to earlier and simpler cancer screening.
  Early detection delivers hope, especially for Black Americans, who 
face the highest cancer death rate and shortest survival rate of any 
racial or ethnic group in the United States.
  We must do better to understand cancer and to serve our underserved 
communities. We must work together because working together will ensure 
that all Americans have equitable access to new cancer detection tools.
  Mr. Speaker, we have had many spirited debates on this floor, but 
with the over 2 million new cancer cases expected in 2024, I think we 
can all agree on a shared goal to fight and beat cancer. One way of 
starting this would be for us to pass H.R. 2407.
  That is why I thank the American Cancer Society Cancer Action 
Network, the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society. They are the 
leading organization urging increased funding for cancer research and 
cancer prevention.
  Also, I thank and commend ACS CAN's board of directors chair, Dr. 
Kimberly Jeffries Leonard. Dr. Jeffries Leonard is a trailblazer with 
over 40 years of experience in applied health and behavioral medicine 
research. She made history in becoming ACS CAN's first Black 
chairwoman. I congratulate her.
  This exemplary organization has made it possible for us to meet our 
constituents, to hear their stories, and to understand better how 
cancer burdens far too many families.
  Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that it is important for us 
as Members of Congress to support investments in cancer research and 
innovation that will help prevent, detect, and treat the families and 
individuals with this disease.
  Mr. Speaker, let me once again thank ACS CAN and their volunteers for 
their tireless dedication and diligence in the fight against cancer.

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