[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1850]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      NEXT GENERATION CHOICES FOUNDATION: WORKING TO LESSEN CANCER

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                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 24, 2010

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, like so many Americans, my family and I have 
been touched by cancer. I have worked over the years in Congress as a 
member of the Congressional Cancer Caucus as well as my service on the 
Appropriations Committee to support measures to help fight cancer, 
including historic increases in research funding for the National 
Institutes of Health, NIH. I have always believed that ensuring 
adequate funding for medical research on diseases such as cancer is an 
important priority for the federal government.
  There is another important component in the fight against cancer 
being lead today, Madam Speaker, by Bill Couzens, one of my 
constituents from Middleburg, Virginia. He heads a grassroots nonprofit 
organization--the Next Generation Choices Foundation--that he founded 
over 6 years ago, to build awareness for cancer prevention by reducing 
environmental exposures both known and suspected to be linked with 
cancer. After the loss of his sister Anne, mother Joan and several 
close friends, he felt the need to create an organization that would 
focus on the root causes of the worldwide cancer epidemic and increase 
awareness on ways to reduce exposures and choices linked with human 
health and the environment. He says he learned that there are healthy 
choices that can be made by individuals and communities to work toward 
a world with less cancer, including nutritional food options for 
families.
  Next Generation Choices in turn has formed the Less Cancer Campaign, 
which has grown to become a worldwide leader in cancer prevention 
awareness, with over 10,000 members, friends, and fans on Facebook. The 
reach of the Less Cancer Campaign has been wide; numerous other 
organizations have followed its lead and collaborated to fan the flame 
for cancer prevention around the globe. These combined efforts have 
raised awareness for Less Cancer, not just here in America, but around 
the world.
  The Less Cancer and new Healthy Town campaigns are working to help 
guide communities and individuals on understanding the importance of 
making strong choices, and providing information on options and 
resources available to assist them in making healthy decisions. While 
most often pointing to options for the consumer, the organization in 
some rare cases has provided food cards, information for healthy food 
choices, and even shoes for children who need to get out and move, run 
and play.
  While Mr. Couzens' personal experience inspired his passion to help 
lessen the grip of cancer on society, he also understood the importance 
of working with scientists and physicians who have a depth of work in 
evidenced-based science. Next Generation Choices board of directors 
includes Ronald B. Herberman, M.D., founding director of the University 
of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, associate vice chancellor for cancer 
research, Hillman professor of oncology, and professor of medicine at 
the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Herberman is an 
internationally recognized tumor immunologist who has made major 
discoveries in his field and has fostered the application of this 
information to novel approaches in cancer therapy, diagnosis and 
prevention. The phenomenon of natural killer, NK, cell-mediated 
cytotoxicity against tumors was first discovered in Dr. Herberman's 
laboratory at the National Cancer Institute in the early 1970s. In 
addition to his pioneering investigation of NK cells, Dr. Herberman has 
played a leading role in multiple areas of tumor immunology.
  Other leaders in science and medicine on the board are Maryann 
Donovan, Ph.D., the director of the Center for Environmental Oncology 
at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and Thomas M. 
Sherman, M.D., a gastroenterologist. The board also includes 
professionals in industry and business. Greg Lam and John Couzens both 
contribute from their years in business and nonprofit management. Miles 
M. O'Brien is a 26-year broadcast news veteran. Based in New York City, 
he owns a production company that creates, produces, and distributes 
original content across all media platforms. For nearly 17 years he 
worked as a correspondent, anchor, and producer for CNN based in 
Atlanta and New York. At various times he was CNN's science, space, 
aviation, technology, and environment correspondent. Also on the board 
is Veronique Pittman, a trustee of The Rainforest Foundation and Round 
Hill Hotels and Villas, and a partner with Rainforest Native, which 
imports fair-trade ecological products from the Amazon rain forest. In 
addition, she sits on the Leadership Council of the Green Schools 
Alliance and is an Advisory Board member of the Sustainable Acai 
Project and Global Goods Partners.
  Next Generation Choices, Less Cancer, and Healthy Town are closely 
associated with cancer prevention, but also work to reduce all 
illnesses associated with human health and the environment. As Mr. 
Couzens has said, ``When communities and individuals work to make 
healthier choices, great strides toward preventing cancer and other 
illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity can be made. 
By educating people and unifying individuals and programs--
transformation will occur for the next generation.''
  Madam Speaker, the battle against cancer will take the work of 
individuals, communities, businesses and governments, and we salute the 
effort of Bill Couzens and Next Generation Choices as they raise 
awareness on ways we can all be involved in this fight.

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