III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 459 

Recognizing the importance of cancer research and the vital contributions 

of scientists, clinicians, cancer survivors, and other patient advocates 

across the United States who are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, 

and designating May 2016, as ‘‘National Cancer Research Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 9, 2016 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. ISAKSON, Ms. AYOTTE, Mr. BROWN, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. MORAN, Mr. GRASSLEY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. PETERS, Mrs. SHAHEEN, and Mr. 

ROUNDS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

MAY 25, 2016 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of cancer research and the vital 

contributions of scientists, clinicians, cancer survivors, 

and other patient advocates across the United States 

who are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, and 

designating May 2016, as ‘‘National Cancer Research 

Month’’. 

Whereas, in 2016, cancer remains one of the most pressing 

public health concerns in the United States; 

Whereas, in 2016, more than 1,600,000 individuals in the 

United States are expected to be diagnosed with cancer 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

SRES 459 ATS 

and more than 595,000 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 diagnosed with cancer during her lifetime; 

Whereas approximately 77 percent of individuals diagnosed 

with cancer are over 55 years of age; 

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 the incidence of cancer is expected to grow significantly, reaching 2,300,000 cases per year by 2030; 

Whereas racial and ethnic minorities, as well as low-income, 

rural, 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 85 years of age; 

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

(3) the leading cause of disease-related death among 

children in the United States; 

Whereas the most recent estimates by the National Institutes 

of Health indicated that the overall economic costs of 

cancer to the United States were $216,600,000,000 and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

SRES 459 ATS 

the economic burden of cancer is expected to rise as the 

number of cancer deaths increases; 

Whereas the investment in cancer research by the United 

States has yielded substantial advances in cancer research and has saved and improved millions of lives; 

Whereas scholars estimate that every 1 percent decline in 

cancer mortality saves the economy of the United States 

$500,000,000,000; 

Whereas advancements in understanding the causes, mechanisms, diagnoses, treatments, and prevention of cancer 

have led to cures for many types of cancers and have 

converted other types of cancers into manageable chronic 

conditions; 

Whereas, in 2011, the 5-year survival rate for all types of 

cancer was greater than 65 percent and, in 2015, more 

than 14,500,000 cancer survivors lived in the United 

States; 

Whereas therapies and effective screening tools for some 

types of cancer remain elusive and some cancers, including pancreatic, liver, lung, ovarian, and brain cancers, 

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, the Federal Government, and 

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; 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

SRES 459 ATS 

Whereas precision medicine holds great promise in treating 

many forms of cancer; 

Whereas almost all of what is known about cancer diagnosis, 

treatment, and prevention comes from the 3 to 5 percent 

of patients who enroll in clinical trials, but these trials 

enroll relatively homogeneous patient populations, leaving 

a lack of evidence to guide treatments for a large proportion of the other 95 to 97 percent of patients who do not 

participate in or do not qualify for studies; 

Whereas the explosion of new science, treatments, and diagnostic tests make broad reaching data initiatives and 

breaking down organizational barriers to share information more important than ever so it can be determined 

how best to apply breakthrough treatments to the diverse 

population of the United States; 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of cancer re3 search and the invaluable contributions of research4 ers in the United States and around the world who 

5 are dedicated to reversing the cancer epidemic; 

6 (2) designates May 2016, as ‘‘National Cancer 

7 Research Month’’; and 

8 (3) supports efforts to— 

9 (A) establish cancer research as a national 

10 and international priority; and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

SRES 459 ATS 

1 (B) eliminate the more than 200 diseases 

2 that collectively represent cancer. 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS