Expressing support for designation of September 2010 as Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I want to also thank Betsy Markey, who just spoke, from Colorado. She has worked with me hand in glove, as we should do more times than not, on the House floor, to be honest about it, and we were able to get over 130 cosponsors.

As she said, this year more than 50,000 people in this country will die from blood-related disorder.

This legislation asks the House to support this designation of September as Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

This resolution will enhance the understanding of blood-related cancers. Researchers have recently made important advancements in blood cancer research, but these diseases need more funding resources.

This legislation was requested by the American Society of Hematology, the International Myeloma Foundation, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Before I close, I want to thank the committee of jurisdiction, the chairman on the floor today, for getting this legislation to the floor. The end of September, I will be in Raleigh, North Carolina, for an event called Walk the Night. There will be those who have been cured of cancer blood diseases that will be walking. There will be those who lost loved ones because of blood cancer diseases; they will also be walking.

For this Congress to do this, I will be indebted and grateful too. Again, I want to thank Congresswoman Betsy Markey for being a cosponsor and thank the committees and thank the Congress and the leadership of the House, both Democrat and Republican, for getting this to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution raising awareness of blood cancers. I would like to thank the Representative from North Carolina for his work to bring this important resolution to the House.

Nearly 1 million people are currently afflicted with blood cancers in the United States and 150,000 are newly diagnosed each year. With these numbers, we probably all know someone whose life will be affected.

I was inspired to work on this important resolution by my staff and interns, many of whom have personal experiences with leukemia and other blood cancers. It is inspiring to see their commitment to increasing awareness, such as my staff member, Marissa Smith, who dedicated her free time in honor of a friend's mother and ran a half marathon with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Raising awareness of blood cancers through the designation of September as Blood Cancer Awareness Month will help ensure that we keep in mind their widespread impact and the importance of ample Federal research for funding, education, and research.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1433) expressing support for designation of September 2010 as Blood Cancer Awareness Month, as amended.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as she may consume to the lead Democratic sponsor of the bill, the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Markey).

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I also rise today in support of House Resolution 1433, expressing support for the designation of September 2010 as Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

At this time I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), who was the primary sponsor of this legislation and who has been a real leader on cancer awareness in the U.S. Congress.

I yield back the balance of my time.