Supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of recognizing Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) for bringing forward this resolution.

The timing of this resolution is all too appropriate for those of us on the Committee on Science. Just last week we lost our long-time chief counsel, Barry Beringer, to pancreatic cancer at age 57. Barry was, among other things, a dedicated public servant, a tireless community activist, a loyal alumnus of Dickinson College, a dogged Civil War researcher, and a diehard Philadelphia Phillies fan. He was also, more importantly, a devoted husband and father; and his son, Francis, a sophomore at the College of William and Mary gave a moving eulogy for him at his funeral last week. In his eulogy, Francis captured well his father's warmheartedness, decency and humor.

Francis rightly noted that his father exemplified an ideal, which he dubbed being a ``man for others.''

Barry would have been embarrassed and surprised by all the richly- deserved accolades. He was truly a self-effacing man, not the most common trait on Capitol Hill. Last week's ceremony conveyed a true sense of Barry in all of his idiosyncratic uniqueness.

But there was one way in which Barry was not unique. Tragically, horribly, many share his fate every year as victims of pancreatic cancer. This is a cancer that almost always kills. We understand little about its cause, its course or its cure. We must spare no effort or expense in trying to change that, and making more Americans aware of the disease is a step toward accomplishing our goal.

In every congressional district, in every community there are too many people who have had to experience the kind of loss that we on the Committee on Science and this institution suffered last week.

Barry would not want to be remembered as a cancer victim. Indeed, he fought his disease nobly and bravely until his last days, and we will remember him always the wonderful individual he was during a special order on the floor next week. But it does no disservice to Barry to note that one of his many legacies will be that all of us will have a better understanding of the tragic consequences of pancreatic cancer. So I am pleased to see this House taking note of this horrible disease and committing itself to working to save others from what Barry suffered from and from the loss that his family, his friends and colleagues feel today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 262) supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced House Resolution 262 to help increase awareness about a horrible disease, pancreatic cancer. This year over 30,700 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Because of the lack of early detection methods, 99 percent of those diagnosed will lose their lives, the highest mortality rate of any form of cancer. By the time the symptoms present themselves, it is almost always too late for a positive prognosis. Patients diagnosed have an average life expectancy of only 3 to 6 months.

It is a moral imperative for Congress to work to increase awareness about this life-threatening disease. Currently, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, known as Pan CAN, is the only national advocacy organization available for pancreatic cancer patients and their families and friends. This outstanding organization exists to create awareness, patient support, professional education and advocacy for pancreatic cancer funding.

It has been my pleasure to work with the Pan CAN network through a constituent of mine, Mr. Bob Hammen, in order to pass this resolution. With the passage of House Resolution 262, Congress will be adding our support to Pan CAN and their efforts to increase awareness for pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting pancreatic cancer patients, their families and friends and Pan CAN by passing this important resolution and promoting November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on Science.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) for introducing this important resolution. Cancer of the pancreas stands out as a highly lethal disease, with its victims facing the poorest of all likelihood of survival among all of those surviving major malignancies. It accounts for only 2 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers in the United States each year but 5 percent of all cancer deaths. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer- related mortality in the United States, with an estimated 30,300 deaths attributed to this disease in 2002.

Most pancreatic cancers arise from the ductal cells of the pancreas. The pancreas, an organ situated deep in the abdominal cavity, serves several critical functions. It produces enzymes that are delivered to the small intestines to aid in the digestion of food, and it controls sugar levels in the body. This disease is often far advanced by the time symptoms occur and a diagnosis established. As indicated by 5-year survival rates of less than 5 percent, successful treatment is rare.

Men have a higher incidence in mortality rate of pancreatic cancer than women in each racial and ethnic group. Black men and women have incidences and mortality rates that are 50 percent higher than the rates for non-blacks or for Caucasians in this country. Rates for Hispanics and the Asian American groups are generally lower than that of whites.

Cigarette smoking has been identified consistently as an important risk factor for cancer of the pancreas. Other risk factors which have been suggested but not confirmed include coffee drinking and high fat diets.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is dedicated to focusing national attention on the need to find a cure for pancreatic cancer, and I support this resolution wholeheartedly and Pan CAN's efforts to designate November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Again, I commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania for introducing this resolution, urge its swift adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.