•HCON 60 IH 
Whereas every 3.5 minutes, someone is diagnosed with 
colorectal cancer and every 10 minutes someone dies 
from colorectal cancer; 
Whereas every 5 seconds someone who should be screened for 
colorectal cancer is not; 
Whereas the vast majority of colon cancer deaths can be pre-
vented through proper screening and early detection; 
Whereas the survival rate of individuals who have colorectal 
cancer is 90 percent when detected in the early stages 
versus only a 10 percent survival rate when colorectal 
cancer is diagnosed after it has spread to distant organs; 
Whereas only 39 percent of colorectal cancer patients have 
their cancers detected at an early stage; 
Whereas uninsured Americans are more likely to be diag-
nosed with late stage colon cancer than patients with pri-
vate insurance; 
Whereas only 14.9 percent of those without health coverage 
in the United States have currently been properly 
screened for colorectal cancer; 
Whereas if the majority of Americans age 50 or older were 
screened regularly for colorectal cancer, the death rate 
from this disease could plummet by up to 80 percent; 
Whereas regular colorectal cancer screening has been ranked 
as one of the most cost effective screening interventions 
available, with the potential to save 40,000 lives a year; 
Whereas treatment costs for colorectal cancer are extremely 
high, estimated at $8,400,000,000 for 2004; 
Whereas colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and 
beatable in most cases; 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
04:36 Feb 26, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC60.IH
HC60
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 60 IH 
Whereas increasing the number of people between the ages of 
50 years and 64 years of age who are regularly screened 
in the United States, would provide significant savings in 
tens of billions of dollars to the Medicare program from 
cancer prevention and treatment costs; 
Whereas the Prevent Cancer Foundation launched the Na-
tional Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month partnership in 
1999 to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and how 
to prevent the disease through screening; 
Whereas along with their national Super Colon and Buddy 
Bracelet campaign, Prevent Cancer Foundation has 
worked alongside their partners to improve awareness 
and reduce incidence and mortality from colorectal can-
cer; 
Whereas the Blue Star, developed by the Members of the Na-
tional Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, the American Can-
cer Society, the Colon Cancer Alliance, and C3: 
Colorectal Cancer Coalition represents the collective fight 
against colon cancer, the eternal memory of the people 
whose lives have already been lost to the disease, and the 
shining hope for a future free of colon cancer; 
Whereas C3 created the Cover Your Butt campaign to build 
support at the grassroots level and help shape policy deci-
sions so the most effective colorectal cancer prevention 
and treatment are available to all Americans; 
Whereas Coaches vs. Cancer (a partnership between the 
American Cancer Society and the National Association of 
Basketball Coaches), the Colon Cancer Alliance, and 
Ethicon Endo-Surgery have created ‘‘Earn a Blue Star 
Day’’ as a means for individuals and corporations to 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
04:36 Feb 26, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC60.IH
HC60
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 60 IH 
raise awareness of the importance of screening for colon 
cancer; 
Whereas greater awareness of this cancer and the means to 
prevent it could save the lives of tens of thousands of 
Americans each year; and 
Whereas observing a Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 
during the month of March would provide a special op-
portunity to offer education on the importance of early 
detection and screening: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress— 
(1) supports the observance of Colorectal Can-
cer Awareness Month in order to provide a special 
opportunity to offer education on the importance of 
early detection and screening; 
(2) recognizes and applauds the national and 
community organizations for their work in pro-
moting awareness about colorectal cancer, providing 
information on the importance of prevention and 
early detection through regular screening, and facili-
tating access to treatment for its sufferers; and 
(3) urges organizations and health practitioners 
to ‘‘earn a Blue Star’’ by using this opportunity to 
promote awareness about colorectal cancer and to 
support early identification and removal of pre-can-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
04:36 Feb 26, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HC60.IH
HC60
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 60 IH 
cerous polyps, detectable only through colorectal 
cancer screenings. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
04:36 Feb 26, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HC60.IH
HC60
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS