On Monday, July 24, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined Congressman Vito Fossella to call for passage of federal legislation to establish an Office of Men's Health as part of the Department of Health and Human Services. Borough President Markowitz’s annual men’s health initiative, “Take Your Man to the Doctor,” will continue to address the same concerns that have prompted Congressman Fossella to call for the office.

The legislation (H.R. 5624) provides that the office be charged with investigating issues including the growing life expectancy gap between men and women, which has increased from one year in 1920 to almost six years in 2002; the high incidence of prostate cancer, which accounts for 33% of all cancer cases in the country; the more than 8,000 cases of testicular cancer each year; and the lack of regular check-ups and screenings among men. The legislation is currently before the House Commerce and Energy Committee’s Health Subcommittee.

“Twice as many men as women die of coronary artery disease each year, and when you add that to the rates of prostate and testicular cancer it’s clear why my office launched ‘Take Your Man to the Doctor’ week in 2003,” said Borough President Markowitz. “It’s also clear why Congressman Fossella has introduced this legislation to tackle men’s health challenges at the federal level. Men may get a bad rap about not asking for directions, but this legislation is clearly on course.”

“This would be the best gift we can give to America’s fathers, grandfathers, brothers and uncles—the gift of better health,” said Congressman Fossella. “An Office of Men's Health would serve as a forum for men's health issues and be a central source of information for men across the country.”