August 1, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5883 

SENATE RESOLUTION 536—DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 9, 2012, AS 

‘‘NATIONAL FETAL ALCOHOL 

SPECTRUM DISORDERS AWARENESS DAY’’ 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. 

JOHNSON of South Dakota, and Mr. 

BEGICH) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to: 

S. RES. 536 

Whereas the term ‘‘fetal alcohol spectrum 

disorders’’ includes a broader range of conditions than the term ‘‘fetal alcohol syndrome’’ and has replaced the term ‘‘fetal alcohol syndrome’’ as the umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur 

in an individual whose mother consumed alcohol during her pregnancy; 

Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders 

are the leading cause of cognitive disability 

in Western civilization, including the United 

States, and are 100 percent preventable; 

Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders 

are a major cause of numerous social disorders, including learning disabilities, school 

failure, juvenile delinquency, homelessness, 

unemployment, mental illness, and crime; 

Whereas the incidence rate of fetal alcohol 

syndrome is estimated at 1 out of every 500 

live births and the incidence rate of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is estimated at 1 

out of every 100 live births; 

Whereas, in February 1999, a small group of 

parents with children who suffer from fetal 

alcohol spectrum disorders united to promote awareness of the devastating consequences of alcohol consumption during 

pregnancy by establishing International 

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day; 

Whereas September 9, 1999, became the 

first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 

Awareness Day; 

Whereas Bonnie Buxton of Toronto, Canada, the co-founder of the first International 

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day, 

asked ‘‘What if . . . a world full of FAS/E 

[Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effect] parents all 

got together on the ninth hour of the ninth 

day of the ninth month of the year and asked 

the world to remember that, during the 9 

months of pregnancy, a woman should not 

consume alcohol . . . would the rest of the 

world listen?’’; and 

Whereas, on the ninth day of the ninth 

month of each year since 1999, communities 

around the world have observed International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness 

Day: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) designates September 9, 2012, as ‘‘National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders 

Awareness Day’’; and 

(2) calls on the people of the United States 

to observe National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum 

Disorders Awareness Day with— 

(A) appropriate ceremonies— 

(i) to promote awareness of the effects of 

prenatal exposure to alcohol; 

(ii) to increase compassion for individuals 

affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol; 

(iii) to minimize the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol; and 

(iv) to ensure healthier communities 

across the United States; and 

(B) a moment of reflection during the 

ninth hour of September 9, 2012, to remember 

that a woman should not consume alcohol 

during the 9 months of her pregnancy. 

SENATE RESOLUTION 537—SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND 

IDEALS OF NATIONAL OVARIAN 

CANCER AWARENESS MONTH 

Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Ms. 

SNOWE, Mr. BENNET, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, 

Mrs. BOXER, Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. CARDIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. 

KERRY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. MERKLEY, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. 

MORAN, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. TESTER, Mr. 

UDALL of Colorado, Mr. WEBB, Mr. 

WHITEHOUSE, and Ms. MURKOWSKI) submitted the following resolution; which 

was considered and agreed to: 

S. RES. 537 

Whereas ovarian cancer is the deadliest of 

all gynecologic cancers; 

Whereas ovarian cancer is the 5th leading 

cause of cancer deaths among women in the 

United States; 

Whereas approximately 22,000 women will 

be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, 

and 15,500 will die from the disease; 

Whereas these deaths are those of our 

mothers, sisters, daughters, family members, 

and community leaders; 

Whereas the mortality rate for ovarian 

cancer has not significantly decreased since 

the ‘‘War on Cancer’’ was declared, more 

than 40 years ago; 

Whereas all women are at risk for ovarian 

cancer, and 90 percent of women diagnosed 

with ovarian cancer do not have a family 

history that puts them at higher risk; 

Whereas some women, such as those with a 

family history of breast or ovarian cancer, 

are at higher risk for developing the disease; 

Whereas the Pap test is sensitive and specific to the early detection of cervical cancer, but not to ovarian cancer; 

Whereas, as of the date of agreement to 

this resolution, there is no reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer; 

Whereas many people are unaware that the 

symptoms of ovarian cancer often include 

bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty 

eating or feeling full quickly, urinary symptoms, and several other symptoms that are 

easily confused with other diseases; 

Whereas, in June 2007, the first national 

consensus statement on ovarian cancer 

symptoms was developed to provide consistency in describing symptoms to make it 

easier for women to learn and remember the 

symptoms; 

Whereas there are known methods to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, including 

prophylactic surgery, oral contraceptives, 

and breast-feeding; 

Whereas, due to the lack of a reliable early 

detection test, 75 percent of cases of ovarian 

cancer are detected at an advanced stage, 

making the overall 5-year survival rate only 

45 percent; 

Whereas there are factors that are known 

to reduce the risk for ovarian cancer and 

that play an important role in the prevention of the disease; 

Whereas awareness of the symptoms of 

ovarian cancer by women and health care 

providers can lead to a quicker diagnosis; 

Whereas, each year during the month of 

September, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and its partner members hold a number of events to increase public awareness of 

ovarian cancer; and 

Whereas September 2012 should be designated as ‘‘National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month’’ to increase the awareness of the 

public regarding the cancer: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate supports the 

goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer 

Awareness Month. 

f 

SENATE RESOLUTION 538—DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2012 AS 

‘‘NATIONAL PROSTATE CANCER 

AWARENESS MONTH’’ 

Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mr. 

CARDIN, Mr. KERRY, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. 

SHELBY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. TESTER, 

Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. WYDEN, Mrs. 

HUTCHISON, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. CRAPO, 

Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. WICKER, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. 

MORAN, Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts, 

Mr. AKAKA, Mr. KIRK, Ms. MURKOWSKI, 

and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: 

S. RES. 538 

Whereas countless families in the United 

States live with prostate cancer; 

Whereas 1 in 6 males in the United States 

will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime; 

Whereas prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer and the 

second most common cause of cancer-related 

deaths among males in the United States; 

Whereas, in 2012, the American Cancer Society estimates that 241,740 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 28,170 

males will die from the disease; 

Whereas 30 percent of newly diagnosed 

prostate cancer cases occur in males under 

the age of 65; 

Whereas, approximately every 14 seconds, a 

male in the United States turns 50 years old 

and increases his odds of developing cancer, 

including prostate cancer; 

Whereas African-American males suffer 

from a prostate cancer death rate that is 

more than twice the death rate of White 

males from prostate cancer; 

Whereas obesity is a significant predictor 

of the severity of prostate cancer; 

Whereas the probability that obesity will 

lead to death and high cholesterol levels is 

strongly associated with advanced prostate 

cancer; 

Whereas males in the United States with 1 

family member diagnosed with prostate cancer have a 33 percent chance of being diagnosed with the disease, males with 2 family 

members diagnosed have an 83 percent 

chance, and males with 3 family members diagnosed have a 97 percent chance; 

Whereas screening by a digital rectal examination and a prostate-specific antigen 

blood test can detect the disease at the early 

stages, increasing the chances of survival for 

more than 5 years to nearly 100 percent; 

Whereas only 27.8 percent of males survive 

more than 5 years if diagnosed with prostate 

cancer after the cancer has metastasized; 

Whereas there are no noticeable symptoms 

of prostate cancer while the cancer is in the 

early stages, making screening critical; 

Whereas ongoing research promises further 

improvements in prostate cancer prevention, 

early detection, and treatment; and 

Whereas educating people in the United 

States, including health care providers, 

about prostate cancer and early detection 

strategies is crucial to saving the lives of 

males and preserving and protecting families: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) designates September 2012 as ‘‘National 

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month’’; 

(2) declares that steps should be taken— 

(A) to raise awareness about the importance of screening methods for, and treatment of, prostate cancer; 


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