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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Forty years ago, with the passage of the National
3Cancer Act of 1971 (P.L. 92-218), leaders of the United States
4came together to establish cancer research and patient care as
5public health priorities; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In 2011, an estimated 571,950 Americans, or more
7than 1,500 people a day, were expected to die of cancer; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Cancer is the second most common cause of death in
9the United States, exceeded only by heart disease; and
 
10    WHEREAS, In the United States, cancer accounts for nearly 1
11in every 4 deaths; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The risk of being diagnosed with cancer increases
13with age, with the majority of cases occurring in middle-aged
14and older adults; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In the United States, men have slightly less than
16a 1-in-2 lifetime risk of developing cancer; and
 
17    WHEREAS, In the United States, women have slightly more
18than a 1-in-3 lifetime risk of developing cancer; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, A total of 65,610 new cases of cancer among
2Illinois residents were reported in 2011; and
 
3    WHEREAS, In 2011, the American Cancer Society reported an
4estimated 23,140 cancer deaths in Illinois; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Cancer touches everyone, either through a direct,
6personal diagnosis or indirectly through the diagnosis of a
7family member or friend; and
 
8    WHEREAS, According to the American Association for Cancer
9Research, the Human Genome Project has identified more than 290
10cancer-related genes, and the list of those genes will continue
11growing as researchers continue identifying genomic changes
12associated with different types of cancer; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Other external factors affect cancer risks,
14including, but not limited to, differences in occupational
15hazards, environmental exposure to pollution and other toxins,
16access to education, nutrition, physical activity, safe
17neighborhoods, and healthy foods; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Scientific achievements have resulted in the U.S.
19Food and Drug Administration's approval of 39 targeted cancer
20therapies; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, According to the American Association for Cancer
2Research, advances in chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and
3palliative care have led to important improvements in patient
4care and, as a result, increases in survival rates associated
5with many cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia,
6Hodgkin's disease, aggressive lymphomas, and testicular
7cancer; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Advances in cancer care, including early
9detection and high-quality treatment programs, and access to
10health care coverage are necessary to provide cancer patients
11with an efficient and effective continuum of care; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Public policy can influence and support efficient
13cancer care by mitigating some of the economic and public
14health burdens on State agencies, including the Department of
15Public Health, the Department of Healthcare and Family
16Services, and the Department of Human Services; therefore, be
17it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
20CONCURRING HEREIN, that an urgent and significant need exists
21to discuss and evaluate public policies affecting cancer
22research, treatment, education, and prevention efforts; and be
23it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Senate and the Illinois House
2of Representatives, by this resolution, express their support
3for the establishment of a joint legislative cancer caucus, to
4be formally known as the Illinois Legislative Cancer Caucus;
5and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Legislative Cancer Caucus
7shall act as a forum for legislators and affiliate members to
8learn about important public health issues related to cancer
9and to evaluate legislative proposals concerning those issues;
10and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That the members and affiliate members of the
12Illinois Legislative Cancer Caucus shall work to increase
13awareness and promote policies to prevent, treat, and educate
14the public about cancer, with the ultimate goal of identifying
15solutions to unmet needs; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Legislative Cancer Caucus
17shall work to strengthen community support programs, to meet
18the diverse needs of Illinois's citizens, and to support
19programs that make treatment options available to the medically
20indigent; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That the organizing members of the Illinois

 

 

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1General Assembly respectfully request recognition within the
2Illinois General Assembly as the official caucus for issues
3related to cancer prevention, treatment, and education
4efforts; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6distributed to the members of the General Assembly, the
7Governor, the Director of Public Health, the Director of
8Healthcare and Family Services, and the Secretary of Human
9Services.