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Rep. Frank R. Wolf

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call to my colleagues' attention recent action in the Virginia General Assembly to designate February 4, 2011, and in each succeeding year, as ``Cancer Prevention Day'' in Virginia.

The Virginia Senate joint resolution introduced by Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel, who represents many constituents from the 10th congressional district, reads:

``Whereas, cancer is the leading cause of death around the world; and ``Whereas, during the 10-year period from 1995 to 2004, the rate of new cancer cases in Virginia increased by 10 percent; and ``Whereas, the most common cancers in Virginia--prostate, lung, and colorectal for men and breast, lung, and colorectal for women--are also among the most preventable; and ``Whereas, the 2008-2012 Virginia Cancer Plan developed by the Virginia Cancer Plan Action Coalition contains specific goals and strategies related to prevention in the hopes of reducing the rates of cancer in Virginians; Now, therefore, be it ``Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, that the General Assembly designate February 4, in 2011 and in each succeeding year, as Cancer Prevention Day in Virginia.''

I applaud Senator Vogel for her efforts to raise awareness in the Commonwealth on the fight against cancer, and also salute our mutual constituent Bill Couzens of Middleburg, founder and president of the nonprofit Next Generation Choices Foundation and the Less Cancer Campaign, who worked with Senator Vogel in the effort to secure passage of the resolution in the state legislature. As she noted, ``The more energy and resources that we direct toward awareness, education and prevention, the more lives we save.''