119-hres544

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 544 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 544

 Supporting the designation of the month of June 2025, as ``National 
 Men's Health Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 June 25, 2025

 Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Dunn of 
 Florida, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Lieu) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
 Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Supporting the designation of the month of June 2025, as ``National 
 Men's Health Month''.

Whereas, despite advances in medical technology and research, American men now 
 live an average of nearly 6 years less than women, and American Indian/
 Alaska Native and African-American men have the lowest life expectancy;
Whereas heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, diabetes, chronic lower 
 respiratory diseases, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, influenza and 
 pneumonia, and Parkinson's disease according to the Centers for Disease 
 Control and Prevention, lead to death in men at a higher age-adjusted 
 rate than women;
Whereas African American and Hispanic men have a higher prevalence of chronic 
 diseases such as diabetes and obesity, compared to non-Hispanic White 
 men and are less likely to seek care from a health professional;
Whereas the Lifespan Gender Gap grew through most of the 20th Century from less 
 than 2 years to 7.7 years before peaking in 1979 and then declining to 
 4.7 years in 2010 (a reduction of three full years) before increasing to 
 5.3 years in the most recent reports;
Whereas the rise, fall and rise again of the Lifespan Gender Gap show that the 
 gap does respond to public policy and public education and that there is 
 nothing inevitable or inexorable about the premature death of men;
Whereas suicide is among the top 10 causes of death for men, with an overall 
 rate nearly 4 times higher than the rate for women and ranks as the 
 second highest cause of death for men in 2 age groups, from ages 1 
 through 19 and ages 20 through 44;
Whereas men on average experience a heart attack 7 years earlier than women;
Whereas testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men between the 
 ages of 15 and 34, and when detected early, has a 95-percent survival 
 rate;
Whereas, according to the American Cancer Society, the number of colorectal 
 cancer cases among men is expected to be over 110,000 in 2025, and over 
 64,000 men are expected to die from it;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 out of 
 every 100 American men will develop prostate cancer during their 
 lifetime;
Whereas, according to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 313,780 men will 
 be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025, and an estimated 35,770 of 
 them will die from the disease;
Whereas African-American men in the United States have the highest incidence of 
 prostate cancer;
Whereas African-American men are 1.76 times more likely to be diagnosed with, 
 and 2.20 times more likely to die from, prostate cancer compared to 
 White men;
Whereas significant numbers of predominantly male-related health problems, such 
 as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility, and colon cancer, 
 could be detected and treated in the early stages if men were more 
 widely aware of the many early detection and screening tools and 
 preventive measures currently available;
Whereas educating both the public and health care providers about the importance 
 of early detection of male health problems will result in reducing rates 
 of mortality for these diseases;
Whereas appropriate use of tests such as prostate-specific antigen exams and 
 blood pressure and cholesterol screens, in conjunction with clinical 
 examination and self- testing for problems such as testicular cancer, 
 can result in the detection of many of these problems in their early 
 stages and proper treatment can nearly eliminate the risk of death from 
 prostate cancer and testicular cancer;
Whereas, according to the most widely cited study, the Cleveland Clinic MENtion 
 It Survey, two-thirds (65 percent) of men tend to wait as long as 
 possible to see their doctor if they have any health symptoms or an 
 injury, and among men surveyed, men ages 35 to 54 are more likely to 
 agree they tend to tough it out as long as possible before going to the 
 doctor (72 percent), compared to men 55 and up (59 percent);
Whereas women are nearly twice as likely as men to have visited the doctor in 
 the past year;
Whereas men are less likely than women to visit their health center or physician 
 for regular screening examinations of male-related problems for a 
 variety of reasons, including fear of learning or confirming health 
 status or condition, embarrassment, lack of health insurance, lack of 
 information, and high out-of-pockets costs;
Whereas ``National Men's Health Week'' was established by Congress and first 
 celebrated in 1994 and urges men and their families to engage in 
 appropriate health behaviors, and the resulting increased awareness has 
 improved health-related education and helped prevent illness;
Whereas the Governors of all 50 States have issued proclamations declaring Men's 
 Health Week in their States, as have mayors of over 350 cities;
Whereas, since 1994, ``National Men's Health Week'' has been celebrated each 
 June by hundreds of States, cities, localities, public health 
 departments, health care entities, churches, and community organizations 
 throughout the Nation that promote health awareness events focused on 
 men and families;
Whereas men who are educated about the value that preventive health care can 
 play in prolonging their lifespan and their role as productive family 
 members will be more likely to participate in health screenings;
Whereas men and their families are encouraged to increase their awareness of the 
 importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and medical 
 checkups; and
Whereas June 2025, is ``National Men's Health Month'', which has the purpose of 
 heightening the awareness of preventable health problems and encouraging 
 early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys: Now, 
 therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) supports the annual ``National Men's Health Month''; 
 and

    (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
 calling upon the people of the United States and interested 
 groups to observe ``National Men's Health Month'' with 
 appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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