[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 547 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 547
Supporting National Men's Health Week.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 9, 2010
Mr. Crapo (for himself and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions
June 14, 2010
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting National Men's Health Week.
Whereas, despite advances in medical technology and research, men continue to
live an average of more than 5 years less than women, and African-
American men have the lowest life expectancy;
Whereas 9 of the 10 leading causes of death, as defined by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, affect men at a higher percentage than
women;
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between
ages 45 and 54, men are over 1\1/2\ times more likely than women to die
of heart attacks;
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men die of
heart disease at 1\1/2\ times the rate of women;
Whereas men die of cancer at almost 1\1/2\ times the rate of women;
Whereas testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men aged 15 to
34, and, when detected early, has a 96 percent survival rate;
Whereas according to the American Cancer Society, the number of cases of colon
cancer among men will reach almost 49,470 in 2010, and nearly 50 percent
of men diagnosed with colon cancer will die from the disease;
Whereas the likelihood that a man will develop prostate cancer is 1 in 6;
Whereas according to the American Cancer Society, the number of men developing
prostate cancer in 2010 will reach more than 217,730 and an estimated
32,050 of those men will die from the disease;
Whereas African-American men in the United States have the highest incidence in
the world of prostate cancer;
Whereas significant numbers of health problems that affect men, such as prostate
cancer, testicular cancer, colon cancer, and infertility, could be
detected and treated if men's awareness of these problems was more
pervasive;
Whereas according to the Bureau of the Census, more than \1/2\ of the elderly
widows now living in poverty were not poor before the death of their
husbands, and by age 100, women outnumber men 4 to 1;
Whereas educating both the public and health care providers about the importance
of early detection of male health problems will result in reducing rates
of mortality for these diseases;
Whereas appropriate use of tests such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) exams,
blood pressure screens, and cholesterol screens, in conjunction with
clinical examination and self-testing for problems such as testicular
cancer, can result in the detection of many of these problems in their
early stages and increase the survival rates to nearly 100 percent;
Whereas women are 2 times more likely than men to visit their doctor for annual
examinations and preventive services;
Whereas men are less likely than women to visit their health center or physician
for regular screening examinations of male-related problems for a
variety of reasons, including fear, lack of health insurance, lack of
information, and cost factors;
Whereas Congress established National Men's Health Week in 1994 and urged men
and their families to engage in appropriate health behaviors, and the
resulting increased awareness has improved health-related education and
helped prevent illness;
Whereas the Governors of over 45 States issue proclamations annually declaring
Men's Health Week in their States;
Whereas, since 1994, National Men's Health Week has been celebrated each June by
dozens of States, cities, localities, public health departments, health
care entities, churches, and community organizations throughout the
Nation that promote health awareness events focused on men and family;
Whereas the National Men's Health Week Internet Web site has been established at
www.menshealthweek.org and features Governors' proclamations and
National Men's Health Week events;
Whereas men who are educated about the value that preventive health can play in
prolonging their lifespan and their role as productive family members
will be more likely to participate in health screenings;
Whereas men and their families are encouraged to increase their awareness of the
importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and medical
checkups; and
Whereas, June 13 through 20, 2010, is National Men's Health Week, which has the
purpose of heightening the awareness of preventable health problems and
encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the annual National Men's Health Week; and
(2) calls upon the people of the United States and
interested groups to observe National Men's Health Week with
appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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