Bill Text: CA AJR11 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2009-06-16 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 52, Statutes of 2009. [AJR11 Detail]
Download: California-2009-AJR11-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AJR 11 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 52
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 16, 2009
ADOPTED IN SENATE JUNE 11, 2009
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 20, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 13, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Furutani
MARCH 25, 2009
Relative to National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 11, Furutani. National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week.
This measure would designate the week of April 19 to 25, 2009,
inclusive, as "National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week," and
would encourage the promotion of policies and programs that seek to
reduce cancer disparities and improve cancer prevention, detection,
treatment, and followup care for all Californians.
WHEREAS, National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week has been
observed across the country each year since 1987 to bring attention
to the disparities of cancer among medically underserved populations;
and
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society is participating in National
Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week to point out the disparities in
cancer burden and to encourage public and private sector commitments
to helping eliminate these disparities; and
WHEREAS, California is the most populous and ethnically and
culturally diverse state in the country, and thus, in a position to
provide leadership for the nation to address the reduction of the
incidence of cancer among all races and genders; and
WHEREAS, In California, disparities exist in knowledge about
cancer, cancer survival, and access to early detection, high-quality
treatment, health care coverage, and health care. Systemic inequities
also exist, including differences in occupational hazards,
environmental exposures to pollution and other toxins, access to
education, nutrition, physical activity, safe neighborhoods, healthy
foods, and other factors that contribute to an increased or reduced
risk of cancer; and
WHEREAS, The risk of developing and dying from cancer varies
considerably among different cultural populations in California. The
medically underserved are often diagnosed at later stages, and with a
higher incidence of cancers with higher mortality, like lung cancer,
and are more likely to receive lower quality health care; and
WHEREAS, In California, African American males have the highest
overall cancer incidence and mortality rates. African American women
are more likely to die of breast cancer, although non-Hispanic white
women are the most likely to be diagnosed with the disease. African
Americans have substantially higher rates of cancers of the stomach,
liver, larynx, myeloma, and Kaposi's sarcoma than non-Hispanic
whites. African American men are at especially high risk for prostate
cancer, more than any other racial and ethnic group; and
WHEREAS, In California, Asian and Pacific Islanders are the only
racial and ethnic group within which cancer is the leading cause of
death. Lung cancer is the most common cancer among Laotian women,
while breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of all
racial and ethnic groups. Lung cancer is the most common cancer among
Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese men, while prostate cancer is the
most common cancer for men in most ethnic groups. Asian and Pacific
Islanders and Latinos have substantially higher rates of liver and
stomach cancer than other groups. Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese
women have much higher rates of cervical cancer than non-Hispanic
white women. Samoan and Tongan women have higher rates of cancers
than non-Hispanic white women. Stomach and liver cancers are among
the top five cancers in most Asian and Pacific Islander groups. Asian
Americans have among the lowest rates of screening for breast,
cervical, and colorectal cancers. A significant number of Korean
Americans have never heard of the pap smear test. There remains a
lack of data about factors related to cancer, cancer control, and
effective interventions among Asian and Pacific Islanders; and
WHEREAS, In California, Latinos have substantially higher rates of
stomach and liver cancers than other Californians. Latinos have
higher rates of acute lymphocytic leukemia, Kaposi's sarcoma, and
cervical cancer than non-Hispanic whites. Cancer is the second
leading cause of death for Latinos. Latinos have the highest
likelihood of being uninsured. Latino women have the highest risk of
developing cervical cancer, about twice as high as non-Hispanic white
women, African American women, and Asian and Pacific Islander women;
and
WHEREAS, Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community are at greater risk for cancer, face specific challenges
accessing quality health care because of insurance policies that fail
to cover same-sex partners, and may hesitate to access health care
because of previous discrimination in health care settings. Lesbians
have fewer mammograms, pelvic examinations, and pap smear tests than
heterosexual women. There remains a lack of data about factors
related to cancer, cancer control, and effective interventions in the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community; now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature declares the week of April
19 to 25, 2009, inclusive, as "National Multicultural Cancer
Awareness Week," and encourages the promotion of policies and
programs that seek to reduce cancer disparities and as a result,
improve cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and followup care
for all Californians; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the
Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative
from California in the Congress of the United States.
