; Whereas all women are at risk for ovarian cancer, but approximately 20 percent of women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a hereditary predisposition to ovarian cancer, which places them at even higher risk; Whereas scientists and physicians have uncovered changes in the BRCA genes that some women inherit from their parents, which may make those women 30 times more likely to develop ovarian cancer; Whereas the family history of a woman has been found to play an important role in accurately assessing their risk of developing ovarian cancer and medical experts believe that family history should be taken into consideration during the annual well-woman visit of any woman; Whereas women who know that they are at high risk of ovarian cancer may undertake prophylactic measures to help reduce the risk of developing this disease; Whereas guidelines issued by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and Society of Gynecologic Oncology recommend that all individuals diagnosed with ovarian cancer receive genetic counseling and genetic testing regardless of their family history; Whereas studies consistently show that compliance with these guidelines is alarmingly low, with recently published National Cancer Institute-funded research finding that in 2013 and 2014, only one-third of ovarian cancer survivors have undergone such testing; Whereas according to a 2016 consensus report by the National Academy of Medicine, there remain surprising gaps in the fundamental knowledge about and understanding of ovarian cancer across all aspects of the disease; Whereas ongoing investments in ovarian cancer research and education and awareness efforts are critical to closing these gaps and improving survivorship for women with ovarian cancer; Whereas each year during the month of September, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and its community partners hold a number of events to increase public awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms