Policy Resolution HHS-19-31

WHEREAS, in 2018 there are expected to be about 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer and about 29,430 deaths from prostate cancer in the United States;

WHEREAS, prostate cancer is a disease that disproportionately affects men with a family history of this disease (particularly brother and/or father) and as they advance in age;

WHEREAS, African-American men are at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer compared to white men and other men of color. One in six African American men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime;

WHEREAS, African-American men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with—and 2.3 times more likely to die from—prostate cancer than white men. African American men are also slightly more likely than white men to be diagnosed with advanced stages of the disease;

WHEREAS, race, age and family history present a triple risk for older African Americans;

WHEREAS, finding prostate cancer when it is still at an early stage offers the best hope for effective treatment and potentially living cancer free;

WHEREAS, if the disease progresses to metastatic, the prognosis is poor with median survival of about 3 years;

WHEREAS, improved awareness of prostate cancer, understanding of increased risks for developing it, as well as access to recent medical advances that may extend the time a patient lives without their cancer spreading are important to improve patient outcomes; and

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) has called for increased funding and outreach in resolution HHS-08-23 “To Adopt Additional Funds for Education, Awareness, Outreach, and Early Detection for Prostate Cancer.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) calls on states to take action on prostate cancer awareness;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL call on states to encourage culturally-competent outreach efforts to educate and inform communities of color on the importance of early detection;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL calls on states to encourage African-American men to participate in clinical trials and for clinical trials to actively recruit African-American men; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Representative Toni Rose (TX) and Representative Sharon Beasley-Teague (GA)
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Health and Human Services Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Chair(s): Representative John King (SC) and Representative Toni Rose (TX)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is November 30, 2018
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Gregory W. Porter (IN), President