Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 15, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to reiterate support for cancer research and treatment to end the pain, suffering, and loss attributed to this disease.

The Department of Health, Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii, American Cancer Society, and several concerned individuals supported this concurrent resolution. The Cancer Research Center of Hawaii (CRCH) supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee would like to recognize concerns brought to its attention by the director of CRCH. The director pointed out that many cancer research professionals from National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers find that while the goal of eliminating pain and suffering caused by cancer by 2015 is laudable, it might create false hopes and expectations among the general public, which would result in inevitable disappointment because researchers find this goal to be impossible to achieve. These professionals do, however, find that a "significant reduction" in the pain and suffering caused by cancer by the year 2015 is an achievable and realistic goal.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 15, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.