PRINTER'S NO. 21
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
40
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, KINSEY, READSHAW, EVERETT, BURNS,
T. DAVIS, MILLARD, WARREN, HILL-EVANS, MURT, SCHLOSSBERG,
CALTAGIRONE, STURLA, MIZGORSKI, DeLUCA, OBERLANDER, COX,
LONGIETTI, PASHINSKI, BROWN, DiGIROLAMO, JOZWIAK, DEASY,
HENNESSEY, SAYLOR AND SCHWEYER, JANUARY 24, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JANUARY 24, 2019
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, It is recommended that people begin screening for
colorectal cancer at 50 years of age or even earlier if they
have a family history of the disease; 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
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Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, has organized the
Blue Lights Campaign for the past five years to educate
Pennsylvanians 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 and buildings in Philadelphia
have included PECO, Two Liberty Place, the FMC Tower, the Cira
Centre, the Lit Brothers building, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge,
the Franklin Institute, Lincoln Financial Field and Boathouse
Row; and
WHEREAS, The State Capitol Building in Harrisburg and
courthouses and county buildings across this Commonwealth have
also been lit up in blue as part of the campaign; and
WHEREAS, It is Dr. Ritchie's hope that if people 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 House of Representatives recognizes the crucial
need to raise awareness of colorectal cancer among
Pennsylvanians in order to promote prevention and early
detection; therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
Blue Lights Campaign and its ongoing effort to raise awareness
of colorectal cancer in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge residents to
take the necessary steps to get screened and promote prevention
and early detection of this disease.
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