“Today” host Al Roker and Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) were honored at the Library of Congress on Thursday as part of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program.
Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.) presented Roker with the Distinguished Service in Journalism award. The program granted Roker the award for his significant contributions to the fight against cancer through his work to “educate about the need for cancer prevention and advances in cancer research.”
In his speech, Roker emphasized that the Black community is disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, but that the rate can be lowered with early screening.
“Prostate cancer often doesn’t show symptoms,” Roker said. “So these early screenings can literally save lives. It’s as easy and as simple as a blood test to gain insight to what your baseline levels are. When diagnosed early enough, the survival rate is 97%.”
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), also a cancer survivor, presented Maryland lawmaker and cancer survivor Raskin with a Special Recognition award.
The two legislators praised each other’s journeys to beating cancer.
Despite coming from two different political parties, Hogan said he and Raskin are “members of the same club, one that neither one of us wanted to join, but were added together.”
“I admire Congressman Raskin fought through this battle without even missing a single vote,” Hogan said. “While Jamie and I don’t always agree on politics, I will always be proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with him in this important fight against this terrible disease.”
Raskin also reflected that the disease is often a unifying experience across party lines.
“Cancer is obviously bipartisan, and it’s really nonpartisan; you don’t have to be in either of our parties,” Raskin said. “It doesn’t discriminate along the lines of race, ethnicity, gender, social class, income.”
“There’s a certain kind of solidarity and unity among all of the people who are going through it that does help you reach a kind of deeper place of humanity. There’s no political parties ever there, and there’s no ideology, and we’re all on the same side, trying to get everybody through it.”
Patricia Garamendi, wife of Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), and Martha Hill, wife of Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), also received awards at the 30th annual luncheon for their efforts toward cancer prevention and awareness.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), along with a dozen House Representatives, were also in attendance.