News Release
For Immediate Release
June 21, 2001
 

Greenleaf Resolutions on Prostate Cancer and Terrorism Approved

HARRISBURG – By voting to approve two separate resolutions offered by Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, R-Montgomery/Bucks, the State Senate set aside a month for prostate cancer awareness and agreed to convey to federal officials its condemnation of terrorism.

Greenleaf said he introduced his anti-terrorism resolution on behalf of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition in response to the terrorist attack that left 20 young people dead in Tel Aviv on June 1. The Senate-passed resolution urges the President and Congress to offer condolences to the families of the victims; to strongly condemn use of terrorism for political aims; and to reaffirm the desire of the people of the United States to assist all parties in their efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.

Under the cancer awareness resolution, September 2001 will be designated as "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month" in the commonwealth. The intent of the resolution is to promote public education about the most common type of cancer diagnosed among Pennsylvania men and the second leading cause of death among them. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports that each year, 10,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed and 2,000 deaths occur as the result of the disease in the commonwealth.

Greenleaf said it is important for men to be aware of the fact that prostate cancer risk increases with age, that it is twice as common among African-Americans, and that screening and early detection are vital in combating the disease.