III
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 691
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 15, 2024
Mr. Rubio (for himself, Mr. Reed, Mr. Braun, Mr. Casey, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Mrs. Fischer) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of May 17, 2024, as DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day
to raise awareness of, and encourage research on, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors and pediatric cancers in general.
Whereas diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (referred to in this preamble as DIPG
) tumors regularly affect 200 to 300 children in the United States each year;
Whereas brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death among children;
Whereas DIPG tumors are the leading cause of pediatric brain cancer deaths;
Whereas, with respect to a child who is diagnosed with a DIPG tumor and receives treatment for a DIPG tumor, the median amount of time that the child survives after diagnosis is approximately 11 months;
Whereas, with respect to an individual who is diagnosed with a DIPG tumor, the rate of survival 5 years after diagnosis is approximately 2 percent;
Whereas the average age at which a child is diagnosed with a DIPG tumor is between 5 and 10 years, resulting in a life expectancy approximately 70 years shorter than the average life expectancy in the United States; and
Whereas the prognosis for children diagnosed with DIPG tumors has not meaningfully improved during the past 50 years: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
supports designating May 17, 2024, as DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day
;
supports efforts—
to better understand diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (referred to in this resolution as DIPG
) tumors;
to develop effective treatments for DIPG tumors; and
to provide comprehensive care for children with DIPG tumors and their families; and
encourages all individuals in the United States to become more informed about—
DIPG tumors;
pediatric brain cancer in general; and
challenges relating to research on pediatric cancers and ways to advance that research.