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Senate Resolution 191--Recognizing That the Occurrence of Prostate Cancer In African-American Men Has Reached Epidemic Proportions and Urging Federal Agencies to Address That Health Crisis by Designating Funds for Education, Awareness Outreach, and ...

Floor Speech

Date: June 18, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care Education


SENATE RESOLUTION 191--RECOGNIZING THAT THE OCCURRENCE OF PROSTATE CANCER IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN HAS REACHED EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS AND URGING FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ADDRESS THAT HEALTH CRISIS BY DESIGNATING FUNDS FOR EDUCATION, AWARENESS OUTREACH, AND RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON HOW PROSTATE CANCER AFFECTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN -- (Senate - June 18, 2009)

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Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I invite my colleagues to celebrate Father's Day by cosponsoring a Senate resolution supporting men's health by recognizing that the occurrence of prostate cancer in African American men has reached epidemic proportions. The resolution also urges Federal agencies to address the health crisis by designating funds for education, awareness outreach, and research specifically focused on how prostate cancer affects African-American men.

Prostate cancer affects thousands of American men each year and is currently the second leading cause of cancer related deaths. This cancer strikes 1 in every 6 men, making it even more prevalent than breast cancer, which strikes 1 in every 7 women. Last year alone more than 186,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 28,000 men died from the disease.

The incidence rate or African-Americans is 60 percent higher than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S. African-Americans are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage and thus have higher mortality rates than any other group.

That is why the Resolution recognizes prostate cancer's prevalence and debilitative impact within all communities, but especially for African-Americans, and urges Federal agencies to direct funds toward efforts to address this particular population.

Senators Cardin, Burris, Landrieu and Boxer join me in introducing this resolution. Congress must take the lead in fighting prostate cancer. I hope all of my colleagues can support this resolution, as it calls for better education and research that will ensure the health of our Nation's fathers, brothers, and sons.


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