[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING

                                 ______


                        HON. RICHARD A. GEPHARDT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 1994

  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an aspect of 
health care reform that, unfortunately, this Congress will not have the 
opportunity to address. I refer to provisions that would establish a 
comprehensive screening program for colorectal cancer [CRC], the second 
most common form of cancer in the United States. According to the 
American Cancer Society, each year there are more than 120,000 new 
cases of CRC in the United States, and more than 57,000 deaths.
  There is no debate in the medical community about the best way to 
reduce the mortality rate for CRC; it is to establish a screening 
program for the approximately 60 million Americans between the ages of 
50 and 75, the segment of the population most susceptible to this 
disease. The medical evidence is clear that early detection can result 
in 5-year survival rates of 80 to 90 percent, as compared with rates of 
50 to 60 percent if the disease is not detected in its early stages.
  The health care reform legislation that I was preparing for 
consideration by this body included provisions to ensure that CRC 
screening would be available to all Americans. I would like to commend 
my colleagues in the Ways and Means and Education and Labor committees 
for reporting legislation that included a CRC screening program, as 
well as a number of other Members who introduced similar legislation.
  I also would like to commend my colleague from Florida, Mr. Hastings, 
who was working with me on an amendment that would have broadened the 
range of CRC screening provisions covered by the legislation in a way 
that would not have increased the cost of the program.
  Unfortunately, the 103d Congress will not be the one that enacts 
comprehensive health care reform for all Americans. It is my hope, 
however, that health care reform, and CRC screening, will be high on 
our agenda for the next Congress. I look forward to continuing to work 
with Mr. Hastings and other Members who have an interest in CRC 
screening to establish a cost-effective screening program to reduce the 
mortality rate from this disease.

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