III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 173 

Supporting National Men’s Health Week. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 9, 2009 

Mr. CRAPO submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting National Men’s Health Week. 

Whereas despite advances in medical technology and research, men continue to live an average of more than 5 

years less than women, and African-American men have 

the lowest life expectancy; 

Whereas 9 of the 10 leading causes of death, as defined by 

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affect 

men at a higher percentage than women; 

Whereas between ages 45 and 54, men are 3 times more likely than women to die of heart attacks; 

Whereas men die of heart disease at 11⁄2 times the rate of 

women; 

Whereas men die of cancer at almost 11⁄2 times the rate of 

women; 


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•SRES 173 IS 

Whereas testicular cancer is 1 of the most common cancers 

in men aged 15 to 34, and when detected early, has a 

96 percent survival rate; 

Whereas the number of cases of colon cancer among men will 

reach almost 75,590 in 2009, and almost 1⁄2 of those 

men will die from the disease; 

Whereas the likelihood that a man will develop prostate cancer is 1 in 6; 

Whereas the number of men developing prostate cancer in 

2009 will reach more than 192,280, and an estimated 

27,360 of them will die from the disease; 

Whereas African-American men in the United States have the 

highest incidence in the world of prostate cancer; 

Whereas significant numbers of health problems that affect 

men, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, colon 

cancer, and infertility, could be detected and treated if 

men’s awareness of such problems was more pervasive; 

Whereas more than 1⁄2 of the elderly widows now living in 

poverty were not poor before the death of their husbands, 

and by age 100, women outnumber men 8 to 1; 

Whereas educating both the public and health care providers 

about the importance of early detection of male health 

problems will result in reducing rates of mortality for 

these diseases; 

Whereas appropriate use of tests such as prostate specific 

antigen exams, blood pressure screenings, and cholesterol 

screenings, in conjunction with clinical examination and 

self-testing for problems such as testicular cancer, can result in the detection of many problems in their early 

stages and increase the survival rates to nearly 100 percent; 


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Whereas women are twice as likely as men to visit the doctor 

for annual examinations and preventive services; 

Whereas men are less likely than women to visit their health 

center or physician for regular screening examinations of 

male-related problems for a variety of reasons, including 

fear, lack of health insurance, lack of information, and 

cost factors; 

Whereas National Men’s Health Week was established by 

Congress in 1994 and urges men and their families to engage in appropriate health behaviors, and the resulting 

increased awareness has improved health-related education and helped prevent illness; 

Whereas the governors of more than 45 States issue proclamations annually declaring Men’s Health Week in their 

States; 

Whereas since 1994, National Men’s Health Week has been 

celebrated each June by dozens of States, cities, localities, public health departments, health care entities, 

churches, and community organizations throughout the 

Nation that promote health awareness events focused on 

men and family; 

Whereas the National Men’s Health Week Internet website 

has been established at www.menshealthweek.org and features governors’ proclamations and National Men’s 

Health Week events; 

Whereas men who are educated about the value that preventive health can play in prolonging their lifespan and their 

role as productive family members will be more likely to 

participate in health screenings; 


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Whereas men and their families are encouraged to increase 

their awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, 

regular exercise, and medical checkups; and 

Whereas June 15 through June 21, 2009, is National Men’s 

Health Week, which has the purpose of heightening the 

awareness of preventable health problems and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among 

men and boys: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the annual National Men’s Health 

3 Week in 2009; and 

4 (2) calls upon the people of the United States 

5 and interested groups to observe National Men’s 

6 Health Week with appropriate ceremonies and ac7 tivities. 

Æ 


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