III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 501 

Supporting National Men’s Health Week. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 20, 2012 

Mr. CRAPO submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

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 more than 11⁄2

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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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 50,000 in 2012, and more than half 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 who develop prostate cancer in 

2012 is expected to reach more than 241,740, and an estimated 28,170 of those men will die from the disease; 

Whereas African-American men in the United States have the 

highest incidence 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 

awareness among men of those 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 by a ratio of 4 

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 

those diseases; 

Whereas appropriate use of tests such as prostate specific 

antigen exams, blood pressure screens, and cholesterol 

screens, in conjunction with clinical examination and selftesting for problems such as testicular cancer, can result 

in the detection of many of those problems in their early 


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stages and increase the survival rates to nearly 100 percent; 

Whereas women are 2 times more likely than men to visit 

their doctors for annual examinations and preventive 

services; 

Whereas men are less likely than women to visit their health 

centers or physicians for regular screening examinations 

of male-related problems for a variety of reasons; 

Whereas Congress established National Men’s Health Week 

in 1994 and urged 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 all 50 States issue proclamations 

annually declaring Men’s Health Week in their respective 

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 

United States 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 lifespans and 

their roles 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; 

Whereas June 11 through 17, 2012, is National Men’s 

Health Week; and 

Whereas the purpose of National Men’s Health Week is to 

heighten the awareness of preventable health problems 

and encourage 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; 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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