On January 20, the House passed, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Res. 708) congratulating Ambassador Nancy Goodman Brinker for receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Sponsored by Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL), the resolution contains several findings, including:

• Ambassador Brinker is the founder of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the world's leading breast cancer grass roots organization. She established the organization in memory of her sister, who passed away from cancer in 1980;
• the Race for the Cure has developed a worldwide grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists who are working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find cures;
• Ambassador Brinker has served as chair of the President's Cancer Panel, United States ambassador to Hungary, and chief of protocol of the United States;
• she was named the first-ever World Health Organization's Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control; and
• her public service has impacted millions of lives and her work, from promoting cancer research to promoting freedom around the world.

Early Detection Month

On January 21, the House passed, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Con. Res. 158) urging support for the designation of Early Detection Month for breast and other forms of cancer.

Sponsored by Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:

one out of every eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime;

incidence of breast cancer in young women is much lower than in older women, and young women's breast cancers are generally more aggressive and result in lower survival rates;

breast cancer currently takes the life of one woman in the United States every 13 minutes;

there is currently no known cure for metastatic breast cancer;

many oncologists and breast cancer researchers believe that a cure for breast cancer will not be discovered until well into the future, if such a cure is possible at all;

192,280 men in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer; and

greater annual awareness of the critical necessity of the early detection of breast cancer and other cancers will not only save tens of thousands of lives but also greatly reduce the financial strain on government and private health care services by detecting cancer before it requires very expensive medical treatment and protocols.  

The resolution explains that “the designation of an Early Detection Month will enhance public awareness of breast cancer and all other forms of cancer” and calls on Congress to support such a designation.  

Speaking in support of H. Con. Res. 158, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) said, “Almost everyone in this country, unfortunately, knows someone who has suffered from breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, but it is becoming one of the most survivable cancers if the disease is detected early, which is the purpose of the bill before us. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to educate and diagnose and treat. With these three pillars education, diagnosis and treatment we can and we will save lives. Let us make sure that we educate one another on the dangers of breast cancer and the need for early and routine checkups. Early detection makes the difference in surviving this terrible disease. In memory of Congresswoman JoAnn Davis [(R-VA)], who passed away at the age of 57 while serving last Congress after a two-year battle with breast cancer, and for my baby granddaughter…let us make sure that our efforts to defeat this terrible disease continue with the same strength, and even stronger, in our efforts at early detection for all individuals in our country and, indeed, the world.”

• The Affordable Health Care for America Act at THOMAS: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3962:
• WomenseNews: http://www.womensenews.org/story/equalitywomen%E2%80%99s-rights/091124/health-battle-over-abortion-moves-senate-bill
• National Organization for Women: http://www.now.org/issues/health/stupak_facts.html