[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 82 (Friday, June 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WISH TO BE CONSIDERED DURING CONGRESSIONAL 
                         ACTION ON HEALTH CARE

                                 ______


                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 24, 1994

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to include in the Record a 
letter sent to me by Ms. Lillian Mobley, a constituent in my district, 
the director of the South Central Multi-Purpose Senior Citizens Center, 
the chair of the Black Women's Forum Health Task Force, and a long time 
friend. Ms. Mobley wrote the letter in response to an invitation to 
attend the Women's Health Forum on June 16, 1994. I believe it is 
critically important that the concerns she raises, on behalf of 
African-American women, are taken into account during congressional 
action on health care reform.

       There are several types of cancers that afflict Black women 
     in disproportionate numbers. These include: breast cancer, 
     cervical cancer and leukemia. Just this past week alone, we 
     lost three very close friends to this disease. If other non-
     Black women are alarmed that there is a lack of research, 
     resources, education and services for women who are afflicted 
     by this disease, you can imagine what the conditions are for 
     African American women. Just before one of the women 
     mentioned above passed away, she called the South Central 
     Multi-Purpose Senior Citizens Center. She was confronted with 
     a situation in which the cost of her prescription drugs was 
     $150.00. She only had $400 and she needed that to pay her 
     rent. Everyday poor Black women who are ill are confronted 
     with having to make this kind of cruel and inhuman choice.
       As African American people we face discrimination and 
     neglect daily. We are served by physicians who are culturally 
     insensitive. We have to virtually insist on information about 
     our medical condition from them that they should, as a matter 
     of basic primary care, provide to us on their own accord. 
     Catastrophic illness causes a tremendous hardship on the 
     families and friends of Black women who are victims of 
     cancer. Many find it extremely difficult to adjust to the 
     changes in their activities of daily living and the stresses 
     that accompany their medical condition. They have to 
     drastically alter their social agendas. Many can no longer 
     drive automobiles and, hence, they cannot attend church.
       I request that my letter be entered into the Congressional 
     Record in memory of attorney Linda Taylor Ferguson, a brave 
     sister who struggled for women's rights in the 35th 
     Congressional District until she succumbed to breast cancer.

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