IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 717 
Recognizing the importance of cancer research and the contributions of sci-
entists, clinicians, cancer survivors and other patient advocates across 
the United States who are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, and 
supporting the designation of May 2016 as ‘‘National Cancer Research 
Month’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 29, 2016 
Mr. YODER (for himself and Mr. CLEAVER) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the importance of cancer research and the con-
tributions of scientists, clinicians, cancer survivors and 
other patient advocates across the United States who 
are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, and sup-
porting the designation of May 2016 as ‘‘National Can-
cer Research Month’’. 
Whereas in 2016, cancer remains one of the most pressing 
public health concerns in the United States; 
Whereas in 2016, more than 1,600,000 individuals in the 
United States are expected to be diagnosed with cancer 
and more than 595,000 individuals in the United States 
are expected to die from the disease; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:44 Apr 29, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR717.IH
HR717
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 717 IH 
Whereas 1 in 2 men in the United States will be diagnosed 
with cancer during his lifetime, and 1 in 3 women in the 
United States will be diagnosed with cancer during her 
lifetime; 
Whereas approximately 77 percent of individuals diagnosed 
with cancer are over the age of 55; 
Whereas cancer accounts for approximately 1 in every 4 
deaths, is the second most common cause of disease-re-
lated death in the United States, and is projected to be-
come the number 1 disease-related killer of individuals in 
the United States; 
Whereas the incidence of cancer is expected to grow signifi-
cantly, 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 dis-
proportionately in cancer incidence, prevalence, and mor-
tality; 
Whereas the term ‘‘cancer’’ refers to more than 200 diseases 
that collectively represent— 
(1) the leading cause of death for individuals in the 
United States under the age of 85; 
(2) the second leading cause of death for all individ-
uals in the United States; and 
(3) the leading cause of death by disease among chil-
dren in the United States; 
Whereas the most recent NIH estimates indicated that the 
overall economic costs of cancer to the United States 
were $216,600,000,000, and the economic burden of can-
cer is expected to rise as the number of cancer deaths in-
creases; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:44 Apr 29, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR717.IH
HR717
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 717 IH 
Whereas the United States investment in cancer research has 
yielded substantial advances in cancer research and has 
saved and improved millions of lives; 
Whereas scholars estimate that every 1 percent decline in 
cancer mortality saves the United States economy 
$500,000,000,000; 
Whereas advancements in understanding the causes, mecha-
nisms, diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of cancer 
have led to cures for many types of cancer and have con-
verted other types of cancer into manageable chronic con-
ditions; 
Whereas the 5-year survival rate for all types of cancer was 
greater than 65 percent in 2011, improving between 
1981 and 2011, and more than 14,500,000 cancer sur-
vivors were living in the United States in 2015; 
Whereas therapies and effective screening tools for some 
types of cancer remain elusive, and some cancers, includ-
ing pancreatic, liver, lung, ovarian, and brain cancer, 
continue to have extraordinarily high mortality rates and 
5-year survival rates that are typically less than 50 per-
cent; 
Whereas partnerships among research scientists, the general 
public, cancer survivors, patient advocates, philanthropic 
organizations, industry, and Federal, State, and local 
governments have led to advanced breakthroughs, early 
detection tools that have increased survival rates, and a 
better quality of life for cancer survivors; 
Whereas precision medicine holds great promise in treating 
many forms of cancer; 
Whereas almost all we know about cancer diagnosis, treat-
ment, and prevention comes from the 3 to 5 percent of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:44 Apr 29, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR717.IH
HR717
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 717 IH 
patients who enroll in clinical trials. Clinical trials enroll 
relatively homogeneous patient populations, which leaves 
us with a lack of evidence to guide treatments for a large 
proportion of the other 95 to 97 percent who do not par-
ticipate in, or do not qualify for studies; 
Whereas the explosion of new science, treatments and diag-
nostic tests make big data initiatives and breaking down 
silos to share information more important than ever so 
that we can quickly learn how best to apply these break-
through treatments to the diverse United States popu-
lation; and 
Whereas advances in cancer research have had significant im-
plications for the treatment of other costly diseases, such 
as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/ 
AIDS, and macular degeneration: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the importance of cancer re-
search and the invaluable contributions of research-
ers in the United States and around the world who 
are dedicated to reversing the cancer epidemic; 
(2) supports the designation of ‘‘National Can-
cer Research Month’’; and 
(3) supports efforts to establish cancer research 
as a national and international priority to eventually 
eliminate the more than 200 diseases that collec-
tively represent cancer. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:44 Apr 29, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR717.IH
HR717
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with BILLS