Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 733, which was originally named the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, which has now been renamed to be the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012.

I first introduced this bill in the 110th Congress in honor of a very dear friend, Ambassador Richard Sklar, who was a victim of this devastating disease.

Pancreatic cancer is a disease from which very few people survive. It's essentially a death sentence. It's because of the families, their friends, neighbors, doctors, and coworkers who have advocated for much better research and treatments that we've made it to the finish line legislatively and that we are here this evening.

Sadly, the outcomes for those with pancreatic cancer have remained relatively unchanged since the passage of the National Cancer Act nearly 40 years ago. Only 6 percent of people diagnosed with the disease live longer than 5 years. Let me say that again. Only 6 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer live longer than 5 years; 75 percent die within a year of diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal types of cancers, even as survival rates for other cancers have increased.

The Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, which I introduced with my wonderful colleague, a real gentleman of the House, Representative Leonard Lance, directs the National Cancer Institute, the NCI, to develop a long-term strategic plan for addressing the disease, bringing together the finest minds in our country with the best expertise in this area. The plan will be used by the agency as a roadmap for navigating the best way forward in research for early detection, for new diagnostic tools, treatment therapies, and even cures.

While pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating of all recalcitrant cancers, or those with a high mortality rate and few treatments, it's certainly not the only cancer that needs increased attention. That's why I've worked closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to expand our legislation to include all recalcitrant cancers so that we can make progress in other areas, too.

I'm exceedingly proud to say that this bill enjoys the bipartisan cosponsorship of 293 Members of the United States House of Representatives. I want to thank Chairman Upton, Fred Upton, whom I cajoled, whom I pestered, whom I pleaded with, whom I constantly kept after. He reminded me that I needed patience. I kept reminding him that I've been at it for 6 years. But he listened, and I appreciate that and I salute him for it.

To the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Waxman, to the staffs of the majority, both the Health Subcommittee, the full committee majority staff and the minority staff, I want to thank them as well, because without them we really cannot get our work done.

I also want to say how proud I am and grateful I am for the efforts of the pancreatic cancer advocates who had the courage to share their painful stories with their Representatives and educate them about the importance of this legislation. I would also like to make mention of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who is the author in the other body and has been a marvelous advocate and carrier of this legislation. And last but not least, I'd like to pay tribute to Erin Katzelnick-Wise of my staff, who, for all of this time--over three Congresses--has worked diligently and vigorously and loyally on this bill.

I look forward to seeing H.R. 733 signed into law by the President so that we can begin the important work of finding a cure for pancreatic cancer, as well as the other cancers that take the lives of our fellow Americans every day. I think with the passage of this and the signature of it, the American people will say, at last, at last the Congress has acted on a bipartisan basis on something that is of utmost importance and urgency to the American people.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to add to the comments that I made earlier that this is really highly unusual that a bill would enjoy such high co-sponsorship.

So, to the advocates that may be tuned in tonight, I, again, want to pay homage to them for their advocacy, for their tenacity, for their turning their real pain and loss into something that is worthy of those that were lost. Almost 1,000 bills were referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee during this, the 112th Congress. There was no other bill that enjoyed the high number, 293 bipartisan cosponsors.

This Congress has been really torn a part by so much disagreement, a high amount of nonpartisanship, people all over the country really scratching their heads and saying, can anyone ever come together in Congress to get something done for the American people. And while I wish there were so much more, I think that this stands tall and is an eloquent statement about my colleagues that signed on to this as cosponsors.

And I thank, again, the leadership on both sides of the aisle, the staff that is so wonderfully responsible for the beautiful work that's done and, again, close my comments by paying tribute to the Republican leader on this legislation, Representative Leonard Lance, who is a genuine gentleman, an outstanding legislator, a good friend, and a man of real integrity.

I say bravo to all of the advocates. God bless you all.

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

Mr. Speaker, this legislation, H.R. 733, the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012, will indeed take important steps to improve outcomes for cancer patients.

For the many Americans who have been diagnosed with a hard-to-treat cancer, hope is not easy to come by. These patients have heard all about the advances in cancer treatments and cures but are left to wonder why there isn't some help for them. Unfortunately, their cancers do not respond to traditional treatments and, as a result, have had very few improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in decades.

Take, for example, pancreatic cancer. According to the NIH, it is estimated that 44,000 men and women will be diagnosed with this cancer this year, of which 35,000 will die. The 5-year survival rate is less than 6 percent, compared to other cancers with survival rates of over 90 percent.

This bill will guide efforts at the National Cancer Institute in identifying the scientific framework that will outline those unanswered medical and scientific questions that will help to focus research efforts for those deadly cancers. Ensuring the availability of qualified researchers and important resources, such as patient registries, will also move the process forward.

Tonight we work to provide patients and their families a little more hope. This bipartisan legislation is an important step as we continue to see breakthrough advances in cancer research, particularly for those cancers whose survival rates remain low and treatment options are limited.

I want to thank Chairman Waxman and his staff, as well as Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Enzi of the Senate committee, which passed the Senate version of this bill today in committee, for enabling us to be on the verge of really getting this legislation into law, which is one of the reasons why we bypassed the full committee.

We were delighted to pass this legislation last week in subcommittee, and I singled out particularly my friends, Anna Eshoo and Leonard Lance, for their stalwart work on moving this legislation. And I've got to tell you, the many times we met and chatted about this legislation, I was given an update on the number of bipartisan cosponsors from 233 to 240, and now 290-something that are there. It is, indeed, a bipartisan piece of legislation.

One of the reasons why we bypassed the full committee this week in markup--which began, actually, this afternoon and we'll finish tomorrow--is we wanted to get this bill to the floor right away so that we don't even have to wait for a lame duck session to get it signed into law. So I would hope that my Senate colleagues move this quickly.

But I just really want to thank my friends, Anna Eshoo and Leonard Lance, for their great work. The staff that put this together--I'll tell you, in sitting down with the NIH folks 2 weeks ago, we've really expanded. We've broadened this to include more than just pancreatic, how this started.

We have the stakeholders now on board that are excited about this legislation and what it will hold. The private sector out there--and, man, we've sure heard from them over the last year or so--but I know, too, that they are very happy with the passage of this tonight. It's a dream that's come true thanks to you.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is an example of Congress functioning at its best. As introduced, Congresswoman Eshoo and Congressman Lance's legislation addresses a policy goal that resonates with many of us--making progress in our fight against pancreatic cancer. In fact, nearly 300 Members of the House--Democrats and Republicans alike--are co-sponsors of this legislation.

Through the Committee process, Members and staff worked on a bipartisan basis to respond to input from the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute (NCI), pancreatic cancer advocates, and cancer researchers. I believe the end result--the bill before us today--represents a fair and balanced approach.

H.R. 733 now focuses on a broader category of cancers, the so-called recalcitrant or deadliest cancers. The legislation directs the NCI to develop scientific frameworks to guide research efforts on recalcitrant cancers--defined as those cancers with 5-year relative survival rates below 50 percent. The bill requires the Director of the NCI to complete frameworks for at least 2 recalcitrant cancers that meet additional criteria set forth in the bill--having a 5-year survival rate of less than 20 percent and causing at least 30,000 estimated deaths--within 18 months of enactment. It is my expectation that NCI will begin first with pancreatic and lung cancer. But in doing so, I also expect NCI to consider applying the scientific framework model to other recalcitrant cancers.

Importantly, the bill ensures there will be an opportunity for outside experts to offer their perspective as the Director of NCI works to complete each scientific framework. H.R. 733 also calls on NCI to submit each completed framework to Congress and post it on the Department of Health and Human Services' website.

No doubt, many Members like myself have met with constituents and heard the heart-wrenching stories of those families who have been impacted by pancreatic cancer. The unfortunate reality is that we rarely hear from

survivors of pancreatic cancer themselves since they are so few. In California alone, nearly 4,000 people will lose their lives to pancreatic cancer this year. An additional 12,000 Californians will die from lung cancer. Their families--and many others--have asked for our support in improving the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic, lung, and other recalcitrant cancers.

There's no disputing that great progress has been made in our fight against cancer over the past 40 years. Consider for example the improvement we've seen in the overall five-year relative survival rate for all cancers, and the important discoveries that NCI has made through its Cancer Genome Atlas program in understanding what makes one cancer different from another. Nonetheless, there are certain cancers where we haven't seen as many gains. That's precisely why I support the approach taken in H.R. 733.

I'm very proud of the work of Chairman Upton, Chairman Pitts, Ranking Member Pallone, Congresswoman Eshoo, and Congressman Lance--as well as all of our staff--on this issue. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 733, the Pancreatic Cancer Research Education Act. Oftentimes, we talk about numbers, Mr. Speaker, but often there's the occasion to actually talk to the people who are behind the bills. One of the most moving experiences I have had is to have had a visit to my office by a young woman by the name of Sienna Gonzalez, who visited with her mother and her family. You see, Sienna's mother is a victim of pancreatic cancer; and Sienna is on a mission, along with many of her friends, to help people fight to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.

She took a lead by urging so many of her friends and colleagues in her classroom, and I hold in my hand just one of the volumes of hundreds upon hundreds of letters that came and were so moving.

The facts speak for themselves: 43,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; 36,000 will die just this year; and the life expectancy after announcement of that is about 3 to 6 months. I think the words are better said, however, by some of the students.

People are losing a lot of friends and family, writes Aly, because of this horrible, horrifying disease. We are trying to help. Did you know that this disease is one of the few cancers for which survival has not improved substantially? In over 40 years, survival rates have not changed. The average life span after diagnosis is 3 to 6 months. Please use more of your research money to help these people if you can. Thank you.

That's just one of the hundreds of letters.

I want to express my deep appreciation of Dr. Timothy Quinn, the superintendent of the Methacton School District; Mrs. Melissa Gora, the principal; but, mostly, the hundreds and hundreds of students who have taken the time to ensure that their voices are heard. As they said: pancreatic cancer: know it, fight it, end it.

Thank you for your role in making sure that my colleagues understand the importance of this great challenge and the opportunity that we have to fight for those with pancreatic cancer.

First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry's 237th Anniversary

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry on the occasion of their 237th anniversary. This volunteer cavalry troop was the first of its kind organized in the defense of our country during the American Revolution. Through those hard-fought years is where the original members forged concepts of service and a body of tradition which is kept alive today by its current members.

The First Troop Cavalry is a private military organization whose membership is comprised of members of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard who serve with A Troop 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry in the 28th Infantry Division. Many of their members have served overseas, including Afghanistan and Iraq. Their service to our country is immeasurable, and we should all be extremely thankful.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 733) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on H.R. 733.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 733, the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012.

This act will bring new hope to patients with cancers.

It is never easy to lose someone to cancer, but it is especially difficult when you are not even given a fighting chance.

Cancers with low survival rates and poor outcomes have baffled researchers for more than 40 years. These are recalcitrant cancers.

While survival rates for many cancers have climbed from 50 percent to 67 percent, there are still cancers that have yet to reach the 50 percent benchmark.

While there are various types of cancers that fall under this definition, nearly half of the 577,190 cancer deaths expected in 2012 will be caused by eight deadly cancers, including pancreatic and ovarian cancer.

This bill will direct the National Cancer Institute to establish a scientific framework for the study of recalcitrant cancers. Working groups will be appointed to prepare the framework that will include a review of current research and identification of key research questions and a summary of promising discoveries. The NIH would then be required to issue a report to Congress with recommendations on the effectiveness of the scientific framework model so that we can ensure that progress is being made and determine whether this type of model should be expanded to other types of diseases and conditions.

I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 3 minutes to the chair of the full committee, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey, (Mr. Lance), a member of the Health Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I want to commend the advocacy of Mr. Lance and Ms. Eshoo, the leadership, Mr. Upton, the ranking member of the full committee and the subcommittee, and thank the staffs of both the subcommittee and the full committee for their tireless work in putting together this bipartisan compromise, an excellent bill. And I urge support from the Members for H.R. 733, the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012.

I yield back the balance of my time.