PRINTER'S NO. 1472
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
238
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY BROOKS, BROWNE, MARTIN, KANE, HUGHES, MENSCH,
J. WARD AND MUTH, MARCH 7, 2022
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MARCH 7, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the Blue Lights Campaign and its efforts to raise
awareness of colorectal cancer in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in
the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related
death among men and women combined; and
WHEREAS, One in 20 people will be diagnosed with colorectal
cancer in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, The disease takes the lives of more than 50,000
people every year; and
WHEREAS, As of May 2021, the recommended age to initiate
screening was lowered from age 50 to 45 because of the rising
number of cases in younger people; and
WHEREAS, With proper screening, colorectal cancer is
preventable, but one in three Americans of appropriate age do
not get the simple test every year; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Marianne Ritchie, a gastroenterologist with
Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, has organized the
Blue Lights Campaign for the past eight years to educate
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residents of this Commonwealth about colorectal cancer and
encourage them to get screened; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ritchie works with government officials and
private businesses throughout Philadelphia to get many of the
city's most well-known buildings and structures lit up in blue
for one week in March each year in honor of National Colorectal
Cancer Awareness Month; and
WHEREAS, Participating places, buildings and organizations in
Philadelphia have included PECO, One Liberty Place, Two Liberty
Place, The Pennsylvania Convention Center, the PSFS building,
the Union League of Philadelphia, the Kimmel Center, the FMC
Tower, the Cira Centre, the Lit Brothers building, the Benjamin
Franklin Bridge, the Franklin Institute, Lincoln Financial
Field, the Wells Fargo Center, philly.com and Boathouse Row; and
WHEREAS, The State Capitol Building in Harrisburg and
courthouses and county buildings across this Commonwealth have
also been lit in blue as part of the campaign; and
WHEREAS, For the last five years, the State Capitol Building
in Harrisburg has shined in blue for one week in March and will
again be lit in blue the week of March 23 through 30, 2022; and
WHEREAS, It is Dr. Ritchie's hope that if individuals are
surrounded by the blue lights, they will feel the urgency of the
message to talk to their health care provider about and get
screened for colorectal cancer, whether it is through a
colonoscopy or another physician-recommended method; and
WHEREAS, In addition to getting screened, individuals are
encouraged to take preventive measures to reduce their risk of
developing the disease, such as eating healthier, increasing
physical activity and reducing alcohol and tobacco intake; and
WHEREAS, The Senate recognizes the crucial need to raise
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awareness of colorectal cancer among residents of this
Commonwealth in order to promote prevention and early detection;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the Blue Lights Campaign
and its ongoing effort to raise awareness of colorectal cancer
in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge residents to take the
necessary steps to get screened and promote prevention and early
detection of this disease.
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