Whereas more than 500,000 families in the United States live with bladder cancer; Whereas more than 80,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with bladder cancer and over 17,000 will die due to the disease in 2019 alone; Whereas bladder cancer affects people of all ages and backgrounds and is among the top 10 cancers with the highest incidence rates in the United States; Whereas bladder cancer is known as one of the most expensive cancers to treat on a per patient basis with a recurrence rate of approximately 50 to 80 percent, requiring lifelong surveillance; Whereas bladder cancer symptoms, such as blood in the urine, are easily recognized, however, many are unaware of the threat of bladder cancer, often prolonging time to diagnosis; Whereas if diagnosed early, bladder cancer is treatable; Whereas military veterans are twice as likely as non-veterans to be diagnosed with bladder cancer; Whereas women are often diagnosed at a later stage in the development of bladder cancer, and when diagnosed at the same stage as men, women have a worse prognosis; Whereas if diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the life expectancy of an individual with bladder cancer decreases; Whereas the quality of life of a person with bladder cancer will depend on future treatment and diagnosis developments, which will rely on research advancements; Whereas there have been few new treatments developed for bladder cancer in more than 20 years; Whereas research advancements for bladder cancer are limited by lack of awareness about the disease within the medical community and general public; Whereas increased awareness will promote early diagnosis and increase chances of survival; Whereas increased awareness will bolster public support of the disease and thus increase funding for innovative research and the development of new treatment options and diagnostic tools; Whereas traditionally, throughout May, survivors, caregivers, and loved ones walk together throughout the United States to raise awareness of bladder cancer