Title: A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 2018 as "National Brain Tumor Awareness Month".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Expresses support for: (1) the designation of May 2018 as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month; (2) research to develop better treatments for brain tumors that will improve the quality of life and the long-term prognosis for those with brain tumors; and (3) those who are battling brain tumors, and their families, friends, and caregivers.
Encourages increased public awareness of brain tumors to honor individuals who are living with or who have lost their lives to brain tumors.
Urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 531 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 531

Expressing support for the designation of May 2018 as ``National Brain 
                        Tumor Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 24, 2018

 Mr. Daines (for himself, Mr. Markey, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Van Hollen) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of May 2018 as ``National Brain 
                        Tumor Awareness Month''.

Whereas an estimated 78,980 new cases of primary and non-malignant tumors in the 
        brain and central nervous system are expected to be diagnosed in the 
        United States during calendar year 2018;
Whereas up to 500,000 individuals were diagnosed with metastatic brain tumors 
        that were the result of cancer spreading from another part of the body 
        to the brain in 2016;
Whereas pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of death from cancer in 
        children under the age of 19;
Whereas the average survival rate in the United States for all malignant brain 
        tumor patients is only 34.9 percent;
Whereas an estimated 16,616 people in the United States will lose their battle 
        with a primary brain tumor during calendar year 2018;
Whereas brain tumors may be malignant or benign, but can be life-threatening in 
        either case;
Whereas nearly 700,000 people in the United States are currently living with a 
        brain tumor;
Whereas treatment of brain tumors is complicated by the fact that there are more 
        than 130 different types of tumors;
Whereas the treatment and removal of brain tumors present significant challenges 
        because of the uniquely complex and fragile nature of the brain;
Whereas brain tumors affect the primary organ in the human body that not only 
        controls cognitive ability, but the actions of every other organ and 
        limb in the body, leading to brain tumors being described as a disease 
        that affects the whole individual;
Whereas brain tumor research is supported by a number of private, nonprofit 
        research foundations, and by institutes at the National Institutes of 
        Health, including the National Cancer Institute and the National 
        Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke;
Whereas basic research advances may fuel research and development of new 
        treatments for brain tumors;
Whereas there remain challenging obstacles to the development of new treatments 
        for brain tumors, and there are no strategies for screening or early 
        detection of brain tumors;
Whereas, despite the number of people newly diagnosed with a brain tumor every 
        year, and their devastating prognoses, there have only been 4 drugs and 
        1 device approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat brain 
        tumors during the preceding 30 years;
Whereas the mortality rates associated with brain tumors have changed little 
        during the past 30 years;
Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of brain tumors, including 
        the difficulties associated with research on those tumors and the 
        opportunities for advances in brain tumor research and treatment; and
Whereas May 2018, when brain tumor advocates nationwide unite in awareness, 
        outreach, and advocacy activities, is an appropriate month to recognize 
        as ``National Brain Tumor Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of May 2018 as ``National 
        Brain Tumor Awareness Month'';
            (2) encourages increased public awareness of brain tumors 
        to honor those who have lost their lives to that devastating 
        disease or are currently living with a brain tumor diagnosis;
            (3) supports efforts to develop better treatments for brain 
        tumors that will improve the quality of life and the long-term 
        prognosis of those individuals diagnosed with a brain tumor;
            (4) expresses its support for those individuals who are 
        battling brain tumors, as well as the families, friends, and 
        caregivers of those individuals; and
            (5) urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research, 
        which is a promising means of advancing understanding of, and 
        treatment for, brain tumors.
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