[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. ____________________