[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20480-20481]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF GYNECOLOGIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 473) supporting the goals 
and ideals of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 473

       Whereas the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation marks its 15th 
     anniversary in 2006;
       Whereas the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation was founded by 
     the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists in 1991;
       Whereas the mission of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation is 
     to raise awareness about the prevention, early detection, and 
     treatment of reproductive cancers;
       Whereas the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation raises funds to 
     support training and research grants;
       Whereas over 77,000 American women will be diagnosed with a 
     reproductive cancer in 2006;
       Whereas there are screening tests and warning signs for 
     reproductive cancers, and early detection leads to improved 
     survival for all female reproductive cancers;
       Whereas gynecologic oncologists are board-certified 
     obstetrician-gynecologists with an additional three to four 
     years in training in the comprehensive care of women with 
     reproductive cancers;
       Whereas the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation works with 
     gynecologic oncologists, survivors, and advocates throughout 
     the year to increase knowledge about reproductive cancers, so 
     that these cancers can be prevented or detected at their 
     earliest, most curable stage; and
       Whereas September is widely recognized as Gynecologic 
     Cancer Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Gynecologic Cancer 
     Awareness Month; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month with appropriate 
     educational programs and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent 
resolution currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, research indicates that more than 77,000 women in the 
United States will be diagnosed with reproductive cancer in 2006. The 
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation works with oncologists, cancer survivors 
and advocates so that one day these cancers can be prevented or 
detected at their earliest stages.
  I am pleased to speak on behalf of this resolution honoring the 15th 
anniversary of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation as well as this 
mission to raise awareness about the prevention, early detection, and 
treatment of reproductive cancers.
  I urge all Members to join me in supporting the goals and ideals of 
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month by agreeing to H. Con. Res. 473.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The mission of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation is to ensure public 
awareness, early diagnosis, and proper treatment of gynecologic cancer 
preventions and to support research and training related to gynecologic 
cancers.
  For 15 years, GCF has advanced this mission by increasing public and 
private funds that aid in the development and implementation of 
programs to meet these worthy goals.
  This year, over 77,000 American women will be diagnosed with a 
reproductive cancer. In 2002, more than 27,000 women died from some 
form of gynecologic cancer. GCF works with gynecologic oncologists, 
survivors, and advocates throughout the year to increase the public's 
knowledge about reproductive cancers, so that these cancers can be 
either prevented or detected at their earliest and most curable stage.
  September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, so it is an 
appropriate time to recognize the efforts of the GCF, gynecologic 
oncologists, and all those who work to save lives by educating 
Americans about gynecologic cancers. This is indeed a worthy piece of 
legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, it is with pride I rise today in support of H. 
Con. Res. 473, supporting the goals and ideals of Gynecologic Cancer 
Awareness Month and particularly the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation.
  This marks the 15th anniversary in 2006 of the Gynecologic Cancer 
Foundation. It is that foundation that has such a long and proud 
history of serving women in America through educational programs and to 
provide up-to-date information on the prevention and early detection 
and treatment of these reproductive cancers, cancers that will affect 
over 77,000 American women this year alone.
  It was in 1999 that September was first declared Gynecologic Cancer 
Awareness Month, and each September since then the Gynecologic Cancer 
Foundation has embarked on an intensive education program to reach 
women with an important message:
  First, get to know your family history. Second, conduct a cancer-risk 
assessment. Third, ask questions, educate yourself about these deadly 
cancers. Last, make an appointment for an annual gynecologic cancer 
screening test.
  Mr. Speaker, every 7 minutes a woman is diagnosed with gynecologic 
cancer. In 2006, over 77,000 women will be diagnosed with gynecologic 
cancer; and, unfortunately, over 27,000 women will die, many of them 
because they didn't have early diagnosis. Too many women are dying 
because of the lack of early diagnosis. Education and early detection 
are the keys to saving women's lives and reducing this terrible 
statistic. If diagnosed in the early stages, the 5-year survival rates 
for these cancers are over 95 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an important awareness program. We have done a 
wonderful job throughout the years as Americans in shedding light on 
other deadly diseases, including breast cancer; but this remains a 
silent killer.
  I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland), I thank the 
Speaker of the House, and urge passage of this bill.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend Dr. Gingrey 1 
minute.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Georgia for 
yielding.
  I just wanted to come down quickly and support Representative Issa 
and H. Con. Res. 473, this resolution regarding gynecologic cancer.
  I spent a lot of years in my former life as a practitioner of the 
specialty of

[[Page 20481]]

gynecology and obstetrics, and that dreaded fear of the big C-word, 
cancer, for women, particularly ovarian cancer that is so deadly. That 
is why it is so important that this resolution be brought forward to 
the Congress and bring some recognition to this dreaded disease.
  Mr. Issa and I were talking earlier today about ovarian cancer, in 
particular, and how difficult it is to detect. It is commonly thought 
you can do a blood test, but it is not a good screening test for 
ovarian cancer. There are other things that we can do, and we need to 
make sure that the American public and our colleagues in the Congress 
are aware of that. It costs money, certainly, but it saves lives.
  I wanted to drop in for a few seconds, and I appreciate the gentleman 
yielding to me, and I urge Members to support this very, very important 
resolution.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 473, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 473.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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