Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1124) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established a National Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1124
Whereas brain tumors are the leading cause of death from solid tumors in children under the age of 20, and are the third leading cause of death from cancer in young adults ages 20-39;
Whereas more than 190,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year;
Whereas of these tumors, approximately 40,000 are new cases of primary brain tumors and approximately 150,000 are metastatic brain tumors, where a cancer spread from another part of the body to the brain;
Whereas some 10-15 percent of all persons with cancer will experience a metastatic brain tumor at some point;
Whereas brain tumors may be either malignant or benign, but can be life-threatening in either case;
Whereas treatment of brain tumors is complicated by the more than 120 different types of such tumors;
Whereas national priorities for dealing with brain tumors include--
(1) supporting research programs at the National Cancer Institute;
(2) strengthening brain tumor research program leadership at the National Institutes of Health, including the National Cancer Institute; and
(3) strengthening access to critical healthcare services for Medicare beneficiaries;
Whereas the North American Brain Tumor Coalition established a Brain Tumor Action Week during the first week of May 2007 and each subsequent first week in May;
Whereas the Lori Arquilla Andersen Foundation is recognized for their efforts to promote awareness of the life-threatening effects of brain tumors, to advocate on behalf of brain tumor patients, and to raise funds for medical research;
Whereas Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure is recognized for their work to bring more treatments to patients, stimulate research and development and otherwise support the accelerated development of new therapies for brain cancer;
Whereas the Goldhirsh Foundation is recognized for being devoted to providing support for innovative brain tumor research with grants awarded through The Brain Tumor Research Awards Program and The Brain Tumor Funders Collaborative;
Whereas the American Brain Tumor Association is recognized for their work to eliminate brain tumors through research and to meet the needs of brain tumor patients and their families;
Whereas The Brain Tumor Society is recognized for their work to find a cure for brain tumors, improve the quality of life for brain tumor patients, survivors, and their families, and raise funds to advance research projects that enhance treatments and find a cure;
Whereas the National Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized for their work to find a cure for brain tumors, and for giving hope to the brain tumor community by funding meaningful research and providing resources and education to patients;
Whereas the Tug McGraw Foundation is recognized for their work to support research that will improve the quality of life in the physical, social, spiritual, and cognitive areas of patients dealing with brain cancer;
Whereas the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized for their work to strive to serve the needs of families and children with brain tumors in hopes of improving the quality of life and finding cures for pediatric brain tumors through funding basic science or clinical research;
Whereas the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized for their work to improve the treatment, quality of life, and the long term outlook for children with brain and spinal cord tumors through research, support, education, and advocacy to families and survivors;
Whereas the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized for their work to eradicate brain tumors, providing support for families, and increasing public awareness about the severity and prevalence of childhood brain tumors;
Whereas the Southeastern Brain Tumor foundation is recognized for their work to instill hope, knowledge and comfort by offering information, education, and support services to all affected by brain tumors;
Whereas the Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized for their work in meeting the needs of Oklahoma families, caregivers and patients affected by brain tumors, through education, advocacy, research and service;
Whereas the Michael Quinlan Brain Tumor Foundation is recognized for their work to support those affected by brain tumors through educational, emotional, financial, and spiritual services;
Whereas the Brain Tumor Action Network is recognized for their work to bring awareness to the general public about brain tumors and to educate and empower brain tumor survivors, their families and friends;
Whereas May would be an appropriate month to recognize as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month; and
Whereas there is a need for greater awareness of brain tumors and brain cancer on the part of the public, including awareness of symptoms and warning signs, treatment options, research needs, and public policy implications: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established a National Brain Tumor Awareness Month; and
(2) the House of Representatives applauds the actions of medical professionals and other caregivers, researchers, patients and their families, and others who strive to combat and raise public awareness of brain tumors and brain cancer.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois.
GENERAL LEAVE
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to express my gratitude to Chairman Dingell for his support in bringing this resolution to the floor today. I want to also thank Congressman Roskam for his support and cosponsorship of this resolution.
For me, the heart and soul behind the effort to establish a Brain Tumor Awareness Month has been the Lori Arquilla Andersen Foundation, which is in my home district in Illinois.
Many of us have been touched by cancer, my family included. But when Linda Magiera lost her precious daughter, Lori, to brain cancer in 2005, she made sure to continue her daughter's passion for life and desire to help others by creating the Lori Arquilla Andersen Foundation in her name.
Lori was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme stage 4 brain cancer, one of the most deadly, at the age of 33, just 3 months after her wedding. She passed away 22 months to the day after her first of five surgeries.
I am told by those who knew her that Lori was always upbeat, positive, courageous, and smiling. The Lori Arquilla Andersen Foundation has exemplified that energy over the past years. They have made important strides in increasing awareness and raising funds for brain tumor research, but they are also responsible for bringing the issues that are important to the brain tumor community as well as this resolution to my attention.
While the Andersen Foundation has managed to put a face on these issues for me, the larger brain tumor community has also done incredible work over the past decade. They have worked tirelessly to support people with brain tumors and their families, raise awareness of the disease and its effects, and to attain resolutions from governors, State legislators, city councils, and mayors in support of establishing a Brain Tumor Awareness Month in May. Today, we take one giant step forward in advancing their cause. And it won't be a moment too soon.
Over 44,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in the brain or spine each year; and among children, brain tumors are the second most common cancer and comprise approximately 25 percent of all pediatric cancers. Although less prevalent than other cancers such as lung, breast, or prostate cancer, brain tumors are in no way trivial for those who have them. Because they are located in the ``control center,'' the thought, memory, emotion, sensation, and movement, brain tumors have serious and at times devastating effects on the lives of patients and their families. Brain tumors can change an individual's personality, their ability to communicate, and their ability to walk or see.
Unfortunately, with over 126 different kinds of primary brain tumors, the development of effective treatments is uncommonly complicated.
The 5-year survival rate following the diagnosis of a primary malignant brain tumor is about 30 percent. However, the average survival rate for patients with glioblastomas is less than 5 percent, and most survive for only 6 to 12 months. We must continue to work towards finding a cure for this terrible disease.
Strong support for ongoing research is the answer, and increased awareness is the first step in getting there. I'm so pleased to be making progress on this resolution today. And with the recent Race For Hope which was held on Sunday, March 4, here in Washington, DC, and raised $1.62 million for brain tumor research, it is certainly timely.
Again, I want to thank Chairman Dingell and his staff for their hard work in bringing this resolution to the floor.
I reserve the balance of my time.
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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his support. It seems that we have something in common. My daughter-in-law passed away from a secondary brain tumor as well, so I appreciate the special meaning that this has for you personally, and for your support for this legislation.
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