Issue Position: Cancer Fight

Issue Position

Increase Awareness and Knowledge of Gynecological Cancer

While speaking at the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance breakfast in Washington, D.C. on July 9, 2009, I urged Congress to pass H.R. 2941, a bill that would reauthorize an already successful program known as "Johanna's Law." Johanna's Law, expiring at the end of 2009, seeks to increase awareness and knowledge of gynecological cancers among women and their health care providers.

I said, "Johanna's Law helps to save lives by raising awareness with women about these cancers. The level of awareness of physicians and patients is nowhere near where it needs to be, but together we are going to fight to ensure Congress does its part."

In order to continue to provide research and awareness funding to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, I have worked with my colleagues Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), and Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) to re-introduce H.R. 2491, Johanna's Law.

The legislation was inspired by the story of Johanna Silver Gordon, who lost her life to ovarian cancer in 2000, following a three-and-a-half year battle with the disease. Like many women, Johanna had symptoms of ovarian cancer that were missed by both her and her healthcare provider.

Research shows that many ovarian cancer deaths could be prevented if women knew the disease's risk factors and early symptoms of gynecologic cancers. Ovarian cancer has a 90 percent survival rate if detected early.

First introduced in 2005, Johanna's Law received 257 cosponsors. The law passed both the House and the Senate with unanimous consent and was signed into law on January 12, 2007, by President George W. Bush.

H.R. 2491 is continuing to build cosponsors and I look forward to its renewal in 2009.

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