[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16953-16955]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             GYNECOLOGIC CANCER EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ACT

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2941) to reauthorize and enhance Johanna's Law to increase 
public awareness and knowledge with respect to gynecologic cancers, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2941

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF JOHANNA'S LAW.

       (a) In General.--Section 317P(d) of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-17(d)(4)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4), by inserting after ``2009'' the 
     following: ``and $18,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 
     2012 through 2014''; and
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6).
       (b) Consultation With Nonprofit Gynecologic Cancer 
     Organizations.--Section 317P(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-
     17(d)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by 
     inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) Consultation with nonprofit gynecologic cancer 
     organizations.--In carrying out the national campaign under 
     this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the leading 
     nonprofit gynecologic cancer organizations, with a mission 
     both to conquer ovarian or other gynecologic cancer 
     nationwide and to provide outreach to State and local 
     governments and communities, for the purpose of determining 
     the best practices for providing gynecologic cancer 
     information and outreach services to varied populations.''.

     SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS REGARDING OUTREACH AND 
                   EDUCATION STRATEGIES RELATING TO GYNECOLOGIC 
                   CANCER.

       (a) In General.--Section 317P(d) of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-17(d)), as amended by section 1, 
     is further amended by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
     following:
       ``(5) Demonstration projects regarding outreach and 
     education strategies.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may carry out a program to 
     award grants or contracts to public or nonprofit private 
     entities for the purpose of carrying out demonstration 
     projects to test and compare different evidence-based 
     outreach and education strategies to increase the awareness 
     and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect 
     to gynecologic cancers, including early warning signs, risk 
     factors, prevention, screening, and treatment options. Such 
     strategies shall include efforts directed at women and their 
     families, physicians, nurses, and key health professionals.
       ``(B) Preferences in awarding grants or contracts.--In 
     making awards under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
     give preference to--
       ``(i) applicants with demonstrated expertise in gynecologic 
     cancer education or treatment or in working with groups of 
     women who are at increased risk of gynecologic cancers; and
       ``(ii) applicants that, in the demonstration project funded 
     by the grant or contract, will establish linkages between 
     physicians, nurses, and key health professionals, health 
     profession students, hospitals, payers, and State health 
     departments.
       ``(C) Application.--To seek a grant or contract under 
     subparagraph (A), an entity shall submit an application to 
     the Secretary in such form, in such manner, and containing 
     such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary 
     determines to be necessary to carry out this paragraph.
       ``(D) Certain requirements.--In making awards under 
     subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--

[[Page 16954]]

       ``(i) make awards, as practicable, to not fewer than five 
     applicants; and
       ``(ii) ensure that information provided through 
     demonstration projects under this paragraph is consistent 
     with the best available medical information.
       ``(E) Report to congress.--Not later than 12 months after 
     the date of the enactment of this paragraph, and annually 
     thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a 
     report that--
       ``(i) summarizes the activities of demonstration projects 
     under subparagraph (A);
       ``(ii) evaluates the extent to which the projects were 
     effective in increasing early detection of gynecologic 
     cancers and awareness and knowledge of risk factors and early 
     warning signs in the populations to which the projects were 
     directed; and
       ``(iii) identifies barriers to early detection and 
     appropriate treatment of such cancers.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 317P(d)(3)(A) of the 
     Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-17(d)(3)(A)) is 
     amended by inserting ``(other than paragraph (5))'' after 
     ``this section''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise this evening in strong support of H.R. 2941, a bill to 
reauthorize Johanna's law. The bill reauthorizes an existing CDC 
program to promote awareness and outreach of gynecological cancers 
among women and health care providers.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2941, a law to reauthorize Johanna's Law, was actually signed 
into law at the end of the 109th Congress and directed Health and Human 
Services to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness of 
gynecological cancer.
  Gynecological cancer of the female reproductive tract affected, in 
2006, over 76,000 women, and 27,000 died from their disease. H.R. 2941 
would authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to 
continue the nationwide campaign.
  This bill also calls for the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
to award grants to nonprofit private entities to carry out 
demonstration projects. These projects would test outreach and 
education strategies to increase the awareness and knowledge of women 
and health care provided regarding gynecologic cancer.
  I am a cosponsor of the legislation. I urge my colleagues to support 
it.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
H.R. 2941, a bill to reauthorize and enhance Johanna's Law to increase 
public awareness and knowledge with respect to gynecologic cancers. I 
would like to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and 
Commerce Committee for bringing this vitally important bill to the 
Floor. I would also like to thank Representative Rosa DeLauro and 
Representative Darrell Issa who have been tireless champions of this 
bill. I am proud to have worked with them to enact the ``Gynecologic 
Cancer Education and Awareness Act''--also known as Johanna's Law--back 
in 2006; and I am proud to be a part of their efforts this year to 
reauthorize and enhance this program.
  I first got involved in the fight against gynecologic cancer when Ms. 
Kolleen Stacey, a constituent of mine, who became a dear, dear friend, 
told me about her personal battle with ovarian cancer--the deadliest of 
the gynecological cancers. Kolleen told me about Johanna's Law, 
convinced me to become a co-sponsor; and she never stopped pushing me 
to get the bill signed into law; because she never wanted any other 
woman to go through what she was going through.
  It took more than two years and a lot of hard work but in 2006, 
Johanna's Law became law and this country took a huge step forward 
towards fulfilling Kolleen's dream. On July 10, 2009, Kolleen 
tragically lost her fight with ovarian cancer. But I know that she is 
looking down on us today and smiling because her dream lives on in our 
actions today. God bless you Kolleen.
  The American Cancer Society estimates that about 21,880 new cases of 
ovarian cancer will be diagnosed and 13,850 deaths are expected to be 
caused by ovarian cancer in the United States in 2010 alone. For the 
State of Indiana, The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2010, 
450 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 300 women will die 
of ovarian cancer.
  This is a tragedy. Research shows that many of those deaths could be 
prevented if more women knew the risk factors and recognized the early 
symptoms of gynecologic cancers so that they could discuss them with 
their doctors. Ovarian cancer has a 93 percent five-year survival rate 
if detected in Stage One and only a 27 percent survival rate if 
detected in Stage Three or Four.
  Yet, the majority of women and medical professionals are unaware of 
the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Women can go undiagnosed or 
misdiagnosed for years, like Kolleen Stacey. Just over five years ago 
on September 5, 2005, Kolleen testified before Congress about the need 
for legislation for added awareness and education on gynecological 
cancers. ``It took an entire year for me to be diagnosed correctly. By 
then the cancer was Stage IIIC, an advanced stage of ovarian cancer 
with only a 38 percent chance of complete cure. Had it been discovered 
in an early stage, I would have had a 90 percent chance of complete 
cure.''
  That is why, in December 2006, Congress passed Johanna's Law, named 
for Johanna Silver Gordon, who lost her life to ovarian cancer despite 
being a health conscious woman who visited the gynecologist regularly. 
Like many women, Johanna had symptoms of ovarian cancer that were 
missed by both her and her healthcare provider.
  Johanna's Law authorized the Centers for Disease Control to create a 
gynecologic cancer awareness campaign aimed at educating women and 
health care providers about the signs and symptoms of gynecologic 
cancers--bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or 
feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency). The 
campaign, Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer, 
seeks to raise awareness of the five main types of gynecologic cancer: 
ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal and vulvar. To date, the Inside 
Knowledge campaign has supported many activities, including the 
development of:
  Cancer-specific fact sheets about gynecologic cancers in both English 
and Spanish,
  A comprehensive gynecologic cancer brochure,
  Formative research and concept testing using focus groups to better 
understand the target audience,
  Materials for primary care and health care professionals, and
  Print and broadcast Public Service Announcements (PSAs).
  All materials created through Johanna's Law have been sent to 
television, radio and print outlets around the country. The CDC is 
tracking the airing of PSAs and audience impressions. The CDC is also 
reaching out to groups, encouraging the use of the materials.
  We still have a long way to go but Johanna's law is making a 
difference. Doctors, nurses and cancer survivors agree--providing more 
information about gynecologic cancers saves women's lives.
  H.R. 2941 reauthorizes and enhances this critically important 
awareness campaign. This legislation provides for the continuation of 
the education campaign started by the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention to increase the awareness and knowledge of health care 
providers and women with respect to gynecological cancers. It also 
enhances cooperation with non-governmental organizations carrying out 
complementary education and awareness campaigns.
  H.R. 2941 is a good bill, it is good public policy. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill, and I urge our colleagues in the 
Senate to act quickly and move this critically needed legislation to 
the President's desk for his signature. This is literally a matter of 
life and death.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge the passage of H.R. 2941, to 
renew and enhance ``Johanna's Law'' to increase public awareness and 
knowledge of gynecological cancers. I am pleased to have introduced 
this important bill with Representatives DeLauro, Issa, and Burton.
  Johanna's Law established a national public information campaign to 
educate women and health care providers about the risk factors and 
early warning signs of gynecologic cancers. This bill before the House 
carries on that important work by extending funding of Johanna's Law 
for 3 more years, from 2011 to

[[Page 16955]]

2014, and providing funds for demonstration projects to identify the 
most effective educational tools.
  The law was named after Michigan resident Johanna Silver Gordon, a 
loving mother and dedicated public school teacher, who, despite 
visiting her doctor regularly, was blindsided by a late stage diagnosis 
of ovarian cancer, learning only after her diagnosis that the symptoms 
she had been experiencing were common symptoms of that disease. 
Tragically, Johanna lost her life to ovarian cancer 3\1/2\ years after 
being diagnosed.
  Johanna's story is far too common. Although, it has been 10 years 
since Johanna Silver died of ovarian cancer, and 4 years since Congress 
passed this important legislation, each year over 71,000 women in U.S. 
are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer and over 26,000 women are lost 
to one of these serious cancers. Many of those deaths could be 
prevented if more women knew and recognized the early symptoms of 
gynecologic cancers and received prompt treatment. For all 
gynecological cancers, early detection dramatically improves a woman's 
chance of survival. For instance, ovarian cancer causes more deaths in 
women than any other gynecological cancer; however, it has a 90 percent 
survival rate if detected in Stage One, but only a 20 percent survival 
rate if detected in Stage Three or Four.
  Right now, awareness, education, early diagnosis, and treatment are 
the most effective weapons we have in our war against gynecological 
cancers. I urge my colleagues to support Johanna's Law so we can 
prevail in our battle against these terrible cancers that cut short the 
lives of our mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, partners and friends. 
I urge the House to join me in voting for this vital legislation.
  Mr. BURGESS. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. I yield back the balance of my time and urge passage of 
the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2941, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________