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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 445 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 445

Recognizing the importance of cancer research and the contributions of 
scientists, clinicians, and patient advocates across the United States 
  who are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, and designating May 
              2014 as ``National Cancer Research Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2014

 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Isakson) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing the importance of cancer research and the contributions of 
scientists, clinicians, and patient advocates across the United States 
  who are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, and designating May 
              2014 as ``National Cancer Research Month''.

Whereas in 2014, cancer remains one of the most pressing public health concerns 
        in the United States;
Whereas in 2014, more than 1,600,000 individuals in the United States are 
        expected to be diagnosed with cancer and more than 585,000 individuals 
        in the United States are expected to die from the disease;
Whereas 1 in 2 men in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer during his 
        lifetime, and 1 in 3 women in the United States will be diagnosed with 
        cancer during her lifetime;
Whereas 77 percent of individuals diagnosed with cancer are over the age of 55;
Whereas cancer accounts for approximately 1 in every 4 deaths, is the second 
        most common cause of disease-related death in the United States, and is 
        projected to become the number 1 disease-related killer of individuals 
        in the United States;
Whereas racial and ethnic minorities, as well as low-income and elderly 
        populations, continue to suffer disproportionately in cancer incidence, 
        prevalence, and mortality;
Whereas the term ``cancer'' refers to more than 200 diseases that collectively 
        represent--

    (1) the leading cause of death for individuals in the United States 
under the age of 85; and

    (2) the second leading cause of death for all individuals in the United 
States;

Whereas cancer is expected to cost the United States economy an estimated 
        $216,000,000,000 in 2014, and the economic burden of cancer is expected 
        to rise as the number of cancer deaths increases;
Whereas the United States investment in cancer research has yielded substantial 
        advances in cancer research and has saved many lives;
Whereas scholars estimate that every 1 percent decline in cancer mortality saves 
        the United States economy $500,000,000,000;
Whereas advancements in understanding the causes, mechanisms, diagnoses, 
        treatment, and prevention of cancer have led to cures for many types of 
        cancer and have converted other types of cancer into manageable chronic 
        conditions;
Whereas the 5-year survival rate for all types of cancer was greater than 65 
        percent in 2011, improving between 1981 and 2011, and more than 
        13,700,000 cancer survivors were living in the United States in 2011;
Whereas therapy and effective screening tools for some types of cancer remain 
        elusive, and some cancers, including pancreatic, liver, lung, ovarian, 
        and brain cancer, continue to have extraordinarily high mortality rates 
        and 5-year survival rates that are typically less than 50 percent;
Whereas partnerships among research scientists, the general public, cancer 
        survivors, patient advocates, philanthropic organizations, industry, and 
        Federal, State, and local governments have led to advanced 
        breakthroughs, early detection tools that have increased survival rates, 
        and a better quality of life for cancer survivors;
Whereas precision medicine holds great promise in treating cancer; and
Whereas advances in cancer research have had significant implications for the 
        treatment of other costly diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, 
        Alzheimer's disease, HIV/AIDS, and macular degeneration: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the importance of cancer research and the 
        invaluable contributions of researchers in the United States 
        and around the world who are dedicated to reversing the cancer 
        epidemic;
            (2) designates May 2014 as ``National Cancer Research 
        Month''; and
            (3) supports efforts to establish cancer research as a 
        national and international priority to eventually eliminate the 
        more than 200 diseases that collectively represent cancer.
                                 <all>
```