[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9132-9133]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 493--RECOGNIZING THAT THE OCCURRENCE OF PROSTATE 
  CANCER IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN HAS REACHED EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS AND 
  URGING FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ADDRESS THAT HEALTH CRISIS BY SUPPORTING 
EDUCATION, AWARENESS OUTREACH, AND RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON HOW 
              PROSTATE CANCER AFFECTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN

  Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Akaka, and Mr. 
Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 493

       Whereas the incidence of prostate cancer in African-
     American men is more than one and a half times higher than in 
     any other racial or ethnic group in the United States;
       Whereas African-American men have the highest mortality 
     rate of any ethnic and racial group in the United States, 
     dying at a rate that is approximately two and a half times 
     higher than other ethnic and racial groups;
       Whereas that rate of mortality represents the largest 
     disparity of mortality rates in any of the major cancers;
       Whereas prostate cancer can be cured with early detection 
     and the proper treatment, regardless of the ethnic or racial 
     group of the cancer patient;
       Whereas African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed 
     at an earlier age and at a later stage of cancer progression 
     than all other ethnic and racial groups, leading to

[[Page 9133]]

     lower cure rates and lower chances of survival;
       Whereas, for cases diagnosed early, studies show a 5-year 
     survival rate of nearly 100 percent, but the survival rate 
     drops significantly to 28 percent for cases diagnosed in late 
     stages; and
       Whereas recent genomics research has increased the ability 
     to identify men at high risk for aggressive prostate cancer: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that prostate cancer has created a health 
     crisis for African-American men;
       (2) recognizes the importance of health coverage and access 
     to care, as well as promoting informed decision making 
     between men and their doctors, taking into consideration the 
     known risks and potential benefits of screening and treatment 
     options for prostate cancer;
       (3) urges Federal agencies to support--
       (A) research to address and attempt to end the health 
     crisis created by prostate cancer;
       (B) efforts relating to education, awareness, and early 
     detection at the grassroots level to end that health crisis; 
     and
       (C) the Office of Minority Health of the Department of 
     Health and Human Services in focusing on improving health and 
     healthcare outcomes for African Americans at an elevated risk 
     of prostate cancer; and
       (4) urges investment by the National Cancer Institute and 
     National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, 
     and other elements of the National Institutes of Health, as 
     well as the Department of Defense, in research focusing on 
     the improvement of early detection and treatment of prostate 
     cancer, such as by using biomarkers to accurately distinguish 
     indolent forms of prostate cancer from lethal forms and 
     advanced imaging tools to assure the best level of 
     individualized patient care.

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, as we approach Father's Day, I would like 
to take the opportunity to discuss an important men's health issue that 
has personally affected my family and the families of many of my 
colleagues in the Chamber.
  Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Every year, more 
than 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 
25,000 men die from it. When caught early, five-year survival rates are 
near 100 percent. But when this cancer is caught in later stages, the 
survival rate drops significantly to only 28 percent.
  African-American men are one and a half times more likely to get 
prostate cancer and two and a half times more likely to be killed by it 
than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. As we move 
forward with better screening and treatment options, we must also close 
disparity gaps so all men have improved outcomes.
  This is why Senators Chambliss, Cardin, Akaka, Wyden and I are 
submitting a resolution to recognize the disproportionate occurrence of 
prostate cancer in African-American men. This resolution acknowledges 
the importance of health care coverage for prostate cancer screenings 
and the need for informed decision making between men and their 
doctors, taking into consideration the known risks and potential 
benefits of screening and treatment options. It also encourages Federal 
agencies to place a greater emphasis on education, awareness, and 
research focused on improved screening tools such as more effective 
biomarkers and advanced imaging.
  I would like to recognize the Prostate Health Education Network, 
PHEN, AdMeTech Foundation, and ZERO--The Project to End Prostate Cancer 
for their work on the development of this resolution and their ongoing 
advocacy to support innovative research that holds real promise in 
turning the tide against cancer.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass 
this important resolution.

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