S2899

	2020 -- S 2899
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	LC004350
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020
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	S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
	PROCLAIMING MARCH, 2020, AS "COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING MONTH" IN
	THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

	Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin
	Date Introduced: June 17, 2020
	Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
1	WHEREAS, Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United
2	States for men and women combined; and
3	WHEREAS, In 2019, more than 145,600 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal
4	cancer and approximately 51,000 Americans will die from it; and
5	WHEREAS, Approximately 60 percent of colorectal cancer cases and 70 percent of
6	deaths occur in those aged 65 and older; and
7	WHEREAS, Although colorectal cancer is largely preventable, one in three adults over
8	50 years of age are not up to date with recommended colorectal cancer screening; and
9	WHEREAS, Colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy allows for the detection and
10	removal of polyps, or abnormal growths, that could become cancerous, as well as for the early
11	detection of colorectal cancer when treatment can be most effective; and
12	WHEREAS, The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that if all precancerous
13	polyps were identiﬁed and removed before becoming cancerous, the number of new colorectal
14	cancer cases could be reduced by 76 to 90 percent; and
15	WHEREAS, A colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy is a highly effective preventive
16	service, but for too many Americans, the screenings either aren't fully covered by their health
17	insurance or aren’t affordable due to high out-of-pocket costs; and
18	WHEREAS, Annually, medical expenditures related to treating colorectal cancer costs
19	about $14 billion; and

1	WHEREAS, On March 6, 2019, H.R.1570 - Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer
2	Screening Act of 2019, which would eliminate unexpected costs for Medicare beneﬁciaries when
3	a polyp is discovered and removed, was introduced in the United States Congress; and
4	WHEREAS, If Americans received regular screenings for colorectal cancer, thousands of
5	deaths could be prevented each year; now, therefore be it
6	RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
7	hereby recognizes the importance of regular colorectal cancer screening and proclaims March,
8	2020, to be "Colorectal Cancer Screening Month"; and be it further
9	RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby urges the United States Congress to support and
10	pass H.R.1570 - Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2019; and be it further
11	RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
12	transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Cancer Action Center, and
13	members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation.
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	LC004350
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