The Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2001

Running Head: Hematological Cancer Research Act

The Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2001

Joe Smith

University of Houston-Clear Lake

May 1, 2005

The Hematological Cancer Research Investment

and Education Act of 2001

The startling reality remains that a great number of people are diagnosed and die of cancer each and every year. Since the beginning of the 1970's, billions of dollars have been funded researching cures and preventions for the numerous types of cancer. Cancer is a complex disease with various types, such as breast and lung cancer. As it stands, breast and lung cancer receive a bulk of the publicity and rightly so. These cancers are extremely lethal and pose serious risks to millions of people.

However, in recent years, increased diagnosis of another cancer type took center stage. They are known as the blood cancers and more specifically leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. In 2001, members of Congress came together and sought out a solution to this growing problem. The result was The Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2001.

The Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2001 addressed the minute funding and lack of education blood cancers were receiving. Because cancer does not favor a particular party, this act brought both sides of the aisle together. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) and cosponsors worked very judiciously and The Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2001 went through the Senate and House completely unopposed. After being signed by President George W. Bush in May of 2002, the legislation was enacted into law. This act created two new programs that addressed the research and education of blood cancers (Thomas, pg. 1).

Americans have been fighting the war on cancer for over thirty years. According to Georgia Trend, Americans have spent hundreds of billions of dollars ever since President Nixon signed the National Cancer Act in 1971 which was "the first shot fired in the so-called disease" (Trend, pg. 1). In 1998, over 500,000 Americans died of cancer. Adriel Bettelheim, of the East Ridge Press, writes that many experts predict that it will soon be number 1, passing heart disease, as the nation's predominant killer (Bettelheim, pg. 1).

In recent years, average Americans are becoming perplexed at the increased number of cancer deaths. Expert researchers are continually reporting encouraging results and remain thrilled and the advancements in cancer treatments. Barbara Mantel, a cancer researcher, writes that through the 1980's-90's major advancements were made in "gene and immune therapy" (Mantel, pg. 10). However, cancer fatalities continue to increase.

Cancer researchers are also keeping alive the most optimistic hope for a cure. Mantel writes that cancer scientists are still on the hunt for the "magic bullet." The "magic bullet" is the phrase that refers to the single drug that will eliminate cancer cells and leave all other normal cells untarnished (Mantel, pg. 8). While this miracle drug has never surfaced, experts remain hopeful that with advancements in technology, it will be possible. For the average American who is at risk for cancer, this hope is not good enough.

A report by Adriel Bettelheim charts the diagnosis and death number of the most prominent cancer diseases. In 1998, the three deadliest cancers were in no surprise lung, colon, and breast cancer. Not too far behind however, are the blood cancers: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma (Bettelheim, pg. 4).

Due to unfortunate circumstances, most people have been in contact with blood cancers, either directly or indirectly. Cancers of the blood are referred to as hematological cancers. Leukemia has very many types and produces bone marrow. Lymphoma is a cancer of white blood cells as well as well as the lymphoid tissue. Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer of the plasma cells (Kugler, pg. 1). Certain advancements have been made in the research of leukemia, but the progress of lymphoma and multiple myeloma research has been troubling. Duane Howell, CEO of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, writes that in a twenty-five year span from 1973-1998, death rates have increased 45% for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 32% for multiple myeloma (Howell, pg. 1).

Blood cancers became a serious issue in Washington in the late 1990's. Unfortunately, it took the diagnosis of a prominent political Congresswoman and the death of a U.S. Representative to open Washington's eyes. In an interview conducted in 2003, Geraldine Ferraro describes being diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1998 (Ferraro, pg. 1). She states that she went public for various reasons. She wanted to raise the awareness of the disease, raise government money, and to push for faster approvals from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Geraldine Ferraro's openness about her diagnosis touched a great number of people including many Congressional men and woman. One in particular was Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX). Hutchinson was especially inspired because her brother was diagnosed with the same disease. Subsequently, former U.S Representative Joe Moakley passed away battling a fight with leukemia in 2001. This prompted Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and several members of Congress, to come together and enact legislation to support the research of blood cancers (Ferraro, pg. 1).

The beginning of the cancer bill was introduced June 22, 2001. It was introduced jointly with Advocacy Day for Hematological Cancers (Blood, pg. 1). It was an extraordinary event with hundreds of advocates giving their support and urging Congress to pass a bill that would assist the 700,000 Americans living with this disease and the more than 100,000 diagnosed each year (Blood, pg. 1).

According the Blood Cancer Advocacy newsletter, the entire event was culminated with the pronouncement that Kay Bailey Hutchinson will sponsor a bill that will alter the Public Health Service Act providing information, research, and education to blood cancers. This bill will later be known as The Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2001 (Blood, pg. 1).

When the bill was first introduced, it carried several cosponsors that included: Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Patty Murray (D-WA) (107th, pg. 1). The idea behind cosponsoring a bill is purely political. However,