Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the need to provide prostate cancer patients with meaningful access to information on treatment options, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 669) expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the need to provide prostate cancer patients with meaningful access to information on treatment options, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 669.

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

As we celebrate the 10th anniversary this week of the National Men's Health Week, few topics are more germane than prostate cancer.

This year, 2004, the American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in our country and that nearly 30,000 men in this country will die from prostate cancer. It is, in fact, the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States.

About 16 percent of American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, 8 percent will develop significant symptoms, and 3 percent will die of the disease. Over $4.7 billion is spent annually in the United States in direct treatment costs for prostate cancer. African American men are diagnosed with and die from prostate cancer more frequently than men of other ethnic backgrounds.

Increased education among health care providers and patients regarding the need for prostate cancer screening tests has resulted in the diagnosis of approximately 86 percent of prostate cancer patients before the cancerous cells have spread appreciably beyond the prostrate gland, thereby enhancing the odds of successful treatment.

The potential complication rates for significant side effects vary among the most common form of treatment for

prostate cancer, however. It is a disease that strikes elderly people in the United States, which also highlights the importance of balancing the potential benefits and risks of various treatments on an individual basis.

Congress as a whole, and Members of Congress as individuals, are in unique positions to support the fight against prostate cancer to help raise public awareness about the need to make screening tests available to all people at risk and to provide prostate cancer patients with adequate information to assess the relative benefits and risks of their treatment options.

This resolution does several things. First of all, it recognizes that national and community organizations and health care providers have played a commendable role in supplying information concerning the importance of screening prostate cancer and the treatment options for patients with prostate cancer; and the Federal Government and States should ensure that health care providers supply prostate cancer patients with appropriate information and any other tools necessary for them to receive readily understandable descriptions of the advantages, disadvantages, benefits, and risks of all medically efficacious treatments for prostate cancer, including brachytherapy, hormonal treatments, external beam radiation, chemotherapy, surgery and, in some cases, simply watchful waiting.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Burns), my colleague.

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

There are many who have played an important role in making the public aware of the ability to treat and to deal with prostate cancer. One of those is a constituent of mine, Theragenix, that is located in my district, manufacturer of a seed that is used in brachytherapy. They, along with many other organizations who provide other treatments, have been very instrumental in passing this resolution to the floor today to get it available to the public for information and also to ensure that adequate reimbursements are made to the providers so that when a treatment is selected by a patient and by a physician that adequate reimbursement will be made to make that treatment available.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes.

I would like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), and my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns), and other Members who helped put this resolution together.

One in six American men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetimes, one in six. Only skin cancer is more prevalent in our population. Approximately 30,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year. Early detection can obviously reduce that number. In fact, early detection is crucial in raising awareness about this disease as the best way to promote regular testing.

A friend of mine in Columbus recently learned that lesson. He had a regular test, early detection, successful surgery and back to his normal active life.

This resolution says Congress can play a unique role in raising public awareness about prostate cancer. We can and we should. There have been exciting developments recently in prostate cancer prevention. A class of drugs called statins hold promise for keeping this form of cancer at bay.

Each year, I join the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), my friend, on a letter signed by many Members on both sides of the aisle urging the Committee on Appropriations to provide ample funding for prostate cancer research. That is one piece of the puzzle; public awareness is the other.

We have a ready tool in the fight against prostate cancer. That tool is information.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this resolution and continue to help get the word out.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 669 and the families and victims of prostate cancer throughout our Nation.

Almost 30,000 Americans died of prostate cancer last year; and Mr. Speaker, that is far too many families who are left behind, losing the company of their loved ones. When it is identified early, like many cancers, prostate cancer can be treated and treated effectively. That is why it is crucial for all Americans to receive periodic screenings.

None of us are in a hurry to leave this world. Our time with our children and grandchildren is precious, and we should all protect ourselves in every manner possible. Our health care providers in America are performing an important service by advocating periodic screenings for this deadly disease.

I am proud to join my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), and to offer my thanks to these men and women, as well as those who assist all Americans, in recognizing the challenges of prostate cancer. As a Congress, we must pass this resolution to reaffirm Congress' commitment to supporting their efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer a personal explanation of the reason I missed rollcall votes Nos. 232-235 on June 14, 2004. These were suspension votes on H.J. Res. 97--Renewal of import restrictions on Burma, H. Res. 669--Prostate cancer awareness, H.R. 4323--Rapid Acquisition Authority for Combat Emergencies and H. Res. 653--Recognizing 80th Birthday of President George H.W. Bush. At the time these votes were called, I was in my congressional district in Pensacola, FL with Vice-President Cheney for his speaking engagement.

I respectfully request that it be entered into the Congressional Record that if present, I would have voted rollcall vote No. 232, Renewal of import restrictions on Burma--``aye''; rollcall vote No. 233, on Prostate cancer awareness, ``aye''; rollcall vote No. 234, on Rapid Acquisition Authority for Combat Emergencies, ``aye''; and rollcall vote No. 235, on Recognizing 80th Birthday of President George H.W. Bush, ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, personal reasons prevent me from being present for legislative business scheduled for today, Monday, June 14, 2004. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.J. Res. 97, legislation renewing the import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (rollcall No. 232); ``yea'' on H. Res. 669, a resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need to provide prostrate cancer patients with meaningful access to information on treatment options (rollcall No. 233); ``yea'' H.R. 4323, providing the Secretary of Defense with rapid acquisition authority in times of combat emergencies (rollcall No. 234); and ``yea'' on H. Res. 653, a resolution honoring former President George Herbert Walker Bush on the occasion of his 80th birthday (rollcall No. 235).