III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 253 

Supporting the designation of May 2021 as ‘‘National Cancer Research 

Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 27, 2021 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mrs. HYDESMITH, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. SCOTT of Florida, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. 

CRAMER, and Mr. ROUNDS) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of May 2021 as ‘‘National Cancer 

Research Month’’. 

Whereas, in 2021, in the United States— 

(1) cancer remains one of the most pressing public 

health concerns; 

(2) an estimated 1,898,160 individuals are expected 

to be diagnosed with cancer; and 

(3) an estimated 608,570 individuals are expected to 

die from cancer; 

Whereas 39 percent of men and women will be diagnosed 

with cancer during their lifetime; 

Whereas cancer in the United States— 


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(1) as of the date of adoption of this resolution, is 

the second most common cause of disease-related death; 

and 

(2) may become the primary cause of disease-related 

death; 

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 100 diseases 

that collectively represent, in the United States— 

(1) the leading cause of death for individuals under 

the age of 85; 

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

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

children ages 1 to 14; 

Whereas the most recent projection indicates that the overall 

cancer-attributed costs to the United States would increase more than 30 percent between 2015 and 2030 to 

a cost of more than $245,000,000,000; 

Whereas the investment the United States has made in cancer research has— 

(1) yielded substantial advances in cancer research 

and cancer treatment; and 

(2) has saved and improved millions of lives; 

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

have— 


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(1) led to cures for many types of cancer; and 

(2) converted other, non-curable types of cancer into 

manageable chronic conditions; 

Whereas the 5-year survival rate for all types of cancer was 

more than 67 percent between 2011 and 2017; 

Whereas more than 16,900,000 survivors of cancer were living in the United States in 2019; 

Whereas therapies 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— 

(1) extraordinarily high mortality rates; and 

(2) 5-year survival rates, for all stages of cancer 

combined, that are typically less than 50 percent; 

Whereas partnerships among research scientists, the general 

public, survivors of cancer, patient advocates, philanthropic organizations, industry, and Federal, State, and 

local governments have led to advanced breakthroughs 

for patients with cancer, including early detection tools 

that have increased survival rates and a better quality of 

life for survivors of cancer; 

Whereas precision medicine holds great promise in treating 

many forms of cancer; 

Whereas researchers have learned a substantial amount about 

cancer diagnoses, treatment, and prevention from the 8 

percent of patients who enroll in clinical trials; 

Whereas clinical trials are a key part of medical research, 

and inclusive clinical trials with diverse participation 

among gender, racial, and ethnic populations— 

(1) are important in achieving a comprehensive analysis of cancer; and 


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(2) lead to more effective treatments that improve 

health outcomes and reduce health disparities; 

Whereas advances in cancer research have had significant implications for the development of COVID–19 vaccines and 

the treatment of other costly diseases, such as arthritis, 

heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and HIV/AIDS; 

Whereas 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the National 

Cancer Act of 1971 (Public Law 92–218; 85 Stat. 778), 

which created the National Cancer Program and 

strengthened the National Cancer Institute (referred to 

in this preamble as the ‘‘NCI’’) in leading the mission of 

the United States to conquer cancer; and 

Whereas the NCI— 

(1) serves as an incubator for preeminent cancer researchers; 

(2) has created 71 NCI-designated cancer centers; 

and 

(3) awards research grants for projects that will lead 

to innovative treatments and groundbreaking cures: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of May 2021 as 

3 ‘‘National Cancer Research Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the importance of cancer re5 search and the invaluable contributions of cancer re6 searchers in the United States and around the world 

7 who are dedicated to the conquest of eliminating 

8 cancer; and 


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1 (3) continues to support cancer research as a 

2 national and international priority to eventually 

3 eliminate the more than 100 diseases that are re4 ferred to as cancer. 

Æ 


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