[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9456]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      SENATE RESOLUTION 501--SUPPORTING NATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH WEEK

  Mr. CRAPO submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 501

       Whereas, despite advances in medical technology and 
     research, men continue to live an average of more than 5 
     years less than women, and African-American men have the 
     lowest life expectancy;
       Whereas 9 of the 10 leading causes of death, as defined by 
     the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affect men at 
     a higher percentage than women;
       Whereas, between ages 45 and 54, men are more than 1\1/2\ 
     times more likely than women to die of heart attacks;
       Whereas men die of heart disease at 1\1/2\ times the rate 
     of women;
       Whereas men die of cancer at almost 1\1/2\ times the rate 
     of women;
       Whereas testicular cancer is 1 of the most common cancers 
     in men aged 15 to 34, and, when detected early, has a 96 
     percent survival rate;
       Whereas the number of cases of colon cancer among men will 
     reach almost 50,000 in 2012, and more than half of those men 
     will die from the disease;
       Whereas the likelihood that a man will develop prostate 
     cancer is 1 in 6;
       Whereas the number of men who develop prostate cancer in 
     2012 is expected to reach more than 241,740, and an estimated 
     28,170 of those men will die from the disease;
       Whereas African-American men in the United States have the 
     highest incidence of prostate cancer;
       Whereas significant numbers of health problems that affect 
     men, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, colon 
     cancer, and infertility, could be detected and treated if 
     awareness among men of those problems was more pervasive;
       Whereas more than \1/2\ of the elderly widows now living in 
     poverty were not poor before the death of their husbands, and 
     by age 100, women outnumber men by a ratio of 4 to 1;
       Whereas educating both the public and health care providers 
     about the importance of early detection of male health 
     problems will result in reducing rates of mortality for those 
     diseases;
       Whereas appropriate use of tests such as prostate specific 
     antigen exams, blood pressure screens, and cholesterol 
     screens, in conjunction with clinical examination and self-
     testing for problems such as testicular cancer, can result in 
     the detection of many of those problems in their early stages 
     and increase the survival rates to nearly 100 percent;
       Whereas women are 2 times more likely than men to visit 
     their doctors for annual examinations and preventive 
     services;
       Whereas men are less likely than women to visit their 
     health centers or physicians for regular screening 
     examinations of male-related problems for a variety of 
     reasons;
       Whereas Congress established National Men's Health Week in 
     1994 and urged men and their families to engage in 
     appropriate health behaviors, and the resulting increased 
     awareness has improved health-related education and helped 
     prevent illness;
       Whereas the Governors of all 50 States issue proclamations 
     annually declaring Men's Health Week in their respective 
     States;
       Whereas, since 1994, National Men's Health Week has been 
     celebrated each June by dozens of States, cities, localities, 
     public health departments, health care entities, churches, 
     and community organizations throughout the United States that 
     promote health awareness events focused on men and family;
       Whereas the National Men's Health Week Internet website has 
     been established at www.menshealthweek.org and features 
     Governors' proclamations and National Men's Health Week 
     events;
       Whereas men who are educated about the value that 
     preventive health can play in prolonging their lifespans and 
     their roles as productive family members will be more likely 
     to participate in health screenings;
       Whereas men and their families are encouraged to increase 
     their awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, 
     regular exercise, and medical checkups;
       Whereas June 11 through 17, 2012, is National Men's Health 
     Week; and
       Whereas the purpose of National Men's Health Week is to 
     heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and 
     encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men 
     and boys: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the annual National Men's Health Week; and
       (2) calls upon the people of the United States and 
     interested groups to observe National Men's Health Week with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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