III 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 142 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JULY 9, 2009 
Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting National Men’s Health Week. 
Whereas despite the advances in medical technology and re-
search, men continue to live an average of almost 6 fewer 
years 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; 
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Whereas between the ages of 45 and 54, men are 3 times 
more likely than women to die of heart attacks; 
Whereas men die of heart disease at almost twice the rate of 
women; 
Whereas men die of cancer at almost one and a half times 
the rate of women; 
Whereas testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers 
in men between the ages of 15 and 34, and when de-
tected early, has a 95 percent survival rate; 
Whereas the number of cases of colon cancer among men was 
almost 54,000 in 2008, and almost half of such men died 
from the disease; 
Whereas the likelihood that a man will develop prostate can-
cer is 1 in 6; 
Whereas the number of men contracting prostate cancer 
reached over 186,000 in 2008, and almost 29,000 of such 
men died 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 male-related health problems, 
such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility, and 
colon cancer, could be detected and treated if men’s 
awareness of these problems was more pervasive; 
Whereas more than one-half 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; 
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Whereas appropriate use of tests such as Prostate Specific 
Antigen (PSA) exams, blood pressure screens, and cho-
lesterol screens, in conjunction with clinical examination 
and self-testing for problems such as testicular cancer, 
can result in the detection of many of these problems in 
their early stages and increases in the survival rates to 
nearly 100 percent; 
Whereas women are 100 percent more likely to visit the doc-
tor for annual examinations and preventive services than 
men; 
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 and first celebrated 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 over 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, local-
ities, 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 website has been 
established at www.menshealthweek.org and features 
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Governors’ proclamations and National Men’s Health 
Week events; 
Whereas men who are educated about the value that preven-
tive health can play in prolonging their lifespan and their 
role as productive family members will be more likely to 
participate in health screenings; 
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 21, 2009, is National Men’s 
Health Week, which has the purpose of heightening the 
awareness of preventable health problems and encour-
aging early detection and treatment of disease among 
men and boys: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) supports the annual National Men’s Health 
Week; and 
(2) requests that the President of the United 
States issue a proclamation calling upon the people 
of the United States and interested groups to ob-
serve National Men’s Health Week with appropriate 
ceremonies and activities. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 8, 2009. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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