119-sres285

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 285 Agreed to Senate

    (ATS) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 285

 Designating July 16, 2025, as ``Glioblastoma Awareness Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 June 17, 2025

 Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. 
Coons, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Markey, Ms. Warren, Mr. Barrasso, 
 and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the following resolution; which was 
 considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Designating July 16, 2025, as ``Glioblastoma Awareness Day''.

Whereas it is estimated that more than 13,000 individuals in the United States 
 will be diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2025;
Whereas glioblastoma is--

    (1) the most common malignant

    (cancerous) brain tumor, accounting for 
approximately \1/2\ of all primary malignant brain tumors; and

    (2) the most aggressive, complex, difficult to treat, and deadly type 
of brain tumor;

Whereas it is estimated that more than 10,000 individuals in the United States 
 will succumb to glioblastoma each year;
Whereas the 5-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 6.9 percent, 
 and the median length of survival for glioblastoma patients is only 8 
 months;
Whereas glioblastoma is described as a disease that affects the ``essence of 
 self'', as the treatment and removal of glioblastoma presents 
 significant challenges due to the uniquely complex and fragile nature of 
 the brain, the primary organ in the human body that controls not only 
 cognitive ability, but also the actions of every organ and limb;
Whereas patients and caregivers play a critical role in furthering research for 
 glioblastoma;
Whereas, relative to patients with other types of cancers, brain cancer patients 
 pay the second highest out-of-pocket costs for medical services in both 
 the initial and end-of-life phases of care;
Whereas, although research advances may fuel the development of new treatments 
 for glioblastoma, challenging obstacles to accelerating progress toward 
 new treatments for glioblastoma remain, and there are no screening or 
 early detection methods;
Whereas, in 2021, significant changes were made to the molecular characteristics 
 of a glioblastoma diagnosis, necessitating critical biomarker testing 
 for patients suspected of having a possible glioblastoma;
Whereas, although glioblastoma was first described in medical and scientific 
 literature in the 1920s, and despite its devastating prognosis, only 5 
 drugs and 1 medical device have been approved by the Food and Drug 
 Administration to specifically treat glioblastoma since the 1920s, and 
 the mortality rates associated with glioblastoma have changed little 
 during the past 30 years;
Whereas, since the first Glioblastoma Awareness Day, the National Cancer 
 Institute established the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network (referred to 
 in this preamble as ``GTN'') in 2020 as part of a national 
 infrastructure to enhance and support the discovery and development of 
 glioblastoma therapies available for multi-institutional GTN teams to 
 drive therapeutic agents through preclinical studies and early phase 
 clinical trials, which are necessary to rapidly evaluate potential 
 treatments to advance toward cures and improved quality of life; and
Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of glioblastoma, including 
 awareness of both--

    (1) the urgent unmet medical needs of glioblastoma patients; and

    (2) the opportunities for research of, and treatment advances for, 
glioblastoma: Now, therefore, be it

 Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) designates July 16, 2025, as ``Glioblastoma Awareness 
 Day'';

    (2) encourages increased public awareness of glioblastoma;

    (3) honors the individuals who have died from the 
 devastating disease of glioblastoma or are currently living 
 with the disease;

    (4) supports efforts to develop better treatments for 
 glioblastoma that will improve the long-term prognosis for, and 
 the quality of life of, individuals diagnosed with the disease;

    (5) recognizes the importance of molecular biomarker 
 testing to the diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma;

    (6) expresses support for the individuals who are battling 
 brain tumors, as well as the families, friends, and caregivers 
 of those individuals;

    (7) urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research 
 among governmental, private, and nonprofit organizations, which 
 is a promising means of advancing the understanding and 
 treatment of glioblastoma; and

    (8) encourages continued investments in glioblastoma 
 research and treatments, including through the Glioblastoma 
 Therapeutics Network and other existing brain tumor research 
 resources.
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