G. K. Butterfield: “Prostate cancer is a national epidemic, the most common cancer in men. One in seven men will be diagnosed, with more…”

“Prostate cancer is a national epidemic, the most common cancer in men. One in seven men will be diagnosed, with more than 220,000 new cases each year, and 28,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year. Prostate cancer, Mr. Speaker, disproportionately impacts African American men, who have the highest prostate cancer rates of any racial or ethnic group. Black men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, nearly 2\1/2\ times as likely to die from that disease. Last week, I introduced the National Prostate Cancer Plan Act along with Congressmen Mike McCaul, Elijah Cummings, and Walter Jones. The bill would establish the National Prostate Cancer Council and direct them to develop and implement a national strategic plan to accelerate the innovation of diagnostic tools to improve early detection and reduce unnecessary treatment. Prostate cancer can strike anyone. Many of us have either been personally affected by this disease or have lost a loved one. Enactment of this bill would be a giant step forward in our battle to combat this treatable disease so that men can live longer and healthier. My bill, Mr. Speaker, has been endorsed by the American Urological Association, American Medical Association, Prostate Cancer Foundation, ZERO, and PCRI. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort by cosponsoring H.R. 2730. ____________________”