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2012 SESSION

12104482D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 129
Offered January 20, 2012
Designating "cross over" day, in 2012 and in each succeeding year, as Breast Cancer Awareness Day in the Virginia General Assembly.
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Patrons-- Obenshain; Delegate: Tata
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, breast cancer, a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the breasts, afflicts women in the United States more than any other type of cancer except skin cancer and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation; and

WHEREAS, the National Breast Cancer Foundation reports that, annually, approximately 200,000 women and 1,700 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,000 women and 450 men will die of the disease; and

WHEREAS, BreastCancerAwareness.com states that "Every 2 minutes, there is a new breast cancer diagnosis. Every 14 minutes, a life is lost to the disease. Over 40,000 people will die this year; about 400 of them will be men and 85% of all diagnoses have no family history. . . . Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women between ages 40 and 55," and, in the United States, nearly $8.1 billion is spent on breast cancer treatment each year; and

WHEREAS, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African-American women and "African Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers," as reported by the American Cancer Society; and

WHEREAS, promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity, breast cancer awareness, and early detection can help lower the risks for breast cancer and prevent or reduce suffering, exorbitant medical costs, and death caused by this disease; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate that the General Assembly promote breast cancer awareness by emphasizing healthy lifestyles, education, prevention, and detection on "cross over" day during each legislative session; now; therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, the House of Delegates concurring, That "cross over" day, in 2012 and in each succeeding year, be designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Day in the Virginia General Assembly; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to Wendy Burtner Owens, Executive Director, Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, requesting that she further disseminate copies of this resolution to her constituents so that members of the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation may be apprised of the sense of the Senate of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate post the designation of this day on the General Assembly's website.