A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 2021 as "National Brain Tumor Awareness Month".

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 266 Expressing support for the designation of May 2021 as ‘‘National Brain Tumor Awareness Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JUNE 9, 2021 Mr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. MARKEY, and Mr. VAN HOLLEN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of May 2021 as ‘‘National Brain Tumor Awareness Month’’. Whereas more than an estimated 84,000 individuals will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in the United States in 2021, and an estimated 87,240 individuals in the United States were diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in 2020; Whereas, in the United States, brain tumors are the— (1) leading cause of death from cancer in children who are under 14 years of age and teens who are under 19 years of age; and (2) third leading cause of death from cancer in young adults who are between 20 and 39 years of age; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:43 Jun 09, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR266.ATS SR266 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 266 ATS Whereas the average 5-year survival rate for an individual in the United States following the diagnosis of a primary malignant brain tumor is only 36 percent; Whereas it is estimated that 18,600 individuals in the United States will die as a result of a malignant brain tumor in 2021; Whereas brain tumors may be malignant or benign but can be life-threatening in either case; Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, ap- proximately 700,000 individuals in the United States are living with a brain tumor; Whereas treatment of brain tumors is complicated by the fact that more than 130 types of brain tumors exist; Whereas the treatment and removal of brain tumors present significant challenges due to the uniquely complex and fragile nature of the brain; Whereas brain tumors affect the primary organ in the human body that controls not only cognitive ability, but the ac- tions 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 Federal medical research institutions; Whereas basic research may fuel advancements and develop- ment of new treatments for brain tumors; Whereas obstacles to the development of new treatments for brain tumors remain, and there are limited strategies for the screening or early detection of brain tumors; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:43 Jun 09, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR266.ATS SR266 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 266 ATS Whereas, despite the high number of individuals diagnosed with a brain tumor every year and the devastating prog- noses for those individuals, only 5 drugs and 1 medical device are approved by the Food and Drug Administra- tion to treat brain tumors; Whereas the mortality rates associated with brain tumors have changed little during the 30-year period preceding the date of introduction of this resolution; Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of brain tumors, including the difficulties associated with research on brain tumors and the opportunities for advances in brain tumor research and treatment; and Whereas May 2021, during which brain tumor advocates na- tionwide unite in awareness, outreach, and advocacy ac- tivities, is an appropriate month to recognize as ‘‘Na- tional Brain Tumor Awareness Month’’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) supports the designation of May 2021 as 2 ‘‘National Brain Tumor Awareness Month’’; 3 (2) encourages increased public awareness of 4 brain tumors to honor the individuals who have lost 5 their lives to a brain tumor or currently live with a 6 brain tumor diagnosis; 7 (3) supports efforts to develop better treat- 8 ments for brain tumors that will improve the quality 9 of life and the long-term prognoses of individuals di- 10 agnosed with a brain tumor; 11 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:43 Jun 09, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR266.ATS SR266 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 266 ATS (4) expresses its support for individuals who are 1 battling brain tumors, as well as the families, 2 friends, and caregivers of those individuals; and 3 (5) urges a collaborative approach to brain 4 tumor research, which is a promising means of ad- 5 vancing understanding of, and treatment for, brain 6 tumors. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:43 Jun 09, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR266.ATS SR266 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS