[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 302 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 302
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 1 (legislative day, March 13), 2008
Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Supporting the observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and for
other purposes.
Whereas colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths for
men and women in the United States;
Whereas colorectal cancer affects men and women equally;
Whereas more than 148,810 people in the United States will be diagnosed with
colon cancer this year;
Whereas over 49,960 people in the United States will die from colon cancer this
year;
Whereas every 3.5 minutes, someone is diagnosed with colorectal cancer and every
9 minutes someone dies from colorectal cancer;
Whereas every 5 seconds someone who should be screened for colorectal cancer is
not;
Whereas the vast majority of colon cancer deaths can be prevented through proper
screening and early detection;
Whereas the survival rate of individuals who have colorectal cancer is 90
percent when detected in the early stages versus only a 10 percent
survival rate when colorectal cancer is diagnosed after it has spread to
distant organs;
Whereas only 39 percent of colorectal cancer patients have their cancers
detected at an early stage;
Whereas uninsured Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with late stage
colon cancer than patients with private insurance;
Whereas only 18.8 percent of those without health coverage in the United States
have currently been properly screened for colorectal cancer;
Whereas if the majority of Americans age 50 or older were screened regularly for
colorectal cancer, the death rate from this disease could plummet by up
to 80 percent;
Whereas regular colorectal cancer screening has been ranked as one of the most
cost effective screening interventions available, with the potential to
save more than 30,000 lives a year;
Whereas treatment costs for colorectal cancer are extremely high, estimated at
$8,400,000,000 for 2004;
Whereas increasing the number of people between the ages of 50 years and 64
years of age who are regularly screened in the United States, would
provide significant savings in billions of dollars to the Medicare
program from cancer prevention and treatment costs;
Whereas the Blue Star, developed by the Members of the National Colorectal
Cancer Roundtable, the American Cancer Society, the Colon Cancer
Alliance, and C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition represents the collective
fight against colon cancer, the eternal memory of the people whose lives
have already been lost to the disease, and the shining hope for a future
free of colon cancer;
Whereas Coaches vs. Cancer (a partnership between the American Cancer Society
and the National Association of Basketball Coaches), the Colon Cancer
Alliance, and Ethicon Endo-Surgery have created ``Earn a Blue Star Day''
as a means for individuals and corporations to raise awareness of the
importance of screening for colon cancer;
Whereas greater awareness of this cancer and the means to prevent it will save
the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year; and
Whereas observing a Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month during the month of March
would provide a special opportunity to offer education on the importance
of early detection and screening: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the Congress--
(1) supports the observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Month in order to provide a special opportunity to offer
education on the importance of early detection and screening;
(2) recognizes and applauds the national and community
organizations for their work in promoting awareness about
colorectal cancer, providing information on the importance of
prevention and early detection through regular screening, and
facilitating access to treatment for its sufferers; and
(3) urges organizations and health practitioners to ``earn
a Blue Star'' by using this opportunity to promote awareness
about colorectal cancer and to support early identification and
removal of pre-cancerous polyps, detectable only through
colorectal cancer screenings.
Passed the House of Representatives March 31, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.