A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 2019 as "National Brain Tumor Awareness Month".

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 258 Expressing support for the designation of May 2019 as ‘‘National Brain Tumor Awareness Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JUNE 20, 2019 Mr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and Ms. WARREN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of May 2019 as ‘‘National Brain Tumor Awareness Month’’. Whereas an estimated 86,970 new cases of primary brain tu- mors are expected to be diagnosed in the United States during calendar year 2019; Whereas pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of death from cancer in children under the age of 19; Whereas the average survival rate in the United States for all malignant brain tumor patients is only 35 percent; Whereas, in 2019, an estimated 16,830 people in the United States will die as a result of a malignant brain tumor; Whereas brain tumors may be malignant or benign, but can be life-threatening in either case; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:34 Jun 20, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR258.ATS SR258 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •SRES 258 ATS Whereas nearly 700,000 people in the United States are cur- rently living with a brain tumor; Whereas treatment of brain tumors is complicated by the fact that there are more than 130 different types of brain tu- mors; 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; Whereas, despite the high number of individuals diagnosed with a brain tumor every year and the devastating prog- noses for such 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 past 30 years; Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of brain tumors, including the difficulties associated with research VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:34 Jun 20, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR258.ATS SR258 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •SRES 258 ATS on these tumors and the opportunities for advances in brain tumor research and treatment; and Whereas May 2019, 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 2019 as 2 ‘‘National Brain Tumor Awareness Month’’; 3 (2) encourages increased public awareness of 4 brain tumors to honor those individuals who have 5 lost their lives to this devastating disease or cur- 6 rently live with a 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 those individ- 10 uals diagnosed with a brain tumor; 11 (4) expresses its support for those individuals 12 who are battling brain tumors, as well as the fami- 13 lies, friends, and caregivers of those individuals; and 14 (5) urges a collaborative approach to brain 15 tumor research, which is a promising means of ad- 16 vancing understanding of, and treatment for, brain 17 tumors. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:34 Jun 20, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR258.ATS SR258 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS