[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 15, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1763-H1764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE OLDER WOMEN'S BREAST CANCER DETECTION ACT

  (Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, in 1995, 46,000 women will die 
from breast cancer, and another 182,000 will be diagnosed with this 
disease. The incidence of breast cancer has increased by 2 percent 
every year since 1980.
  Today I am introducing legislation to help reverse this alarming 
trend, and give hope to thousands of American women. The Older Women's 
Breast Cancer Detection Act will change Medicare law to provide yearly 
mammograms for women over 65. Currently, Medicare only allows for one 
mammogram every 2 years.
  Early diagnosis is often the key to successfully treating breast 
cancer. In fact, both the American Cancer Society and the American 
Medical Association explicitly recommend that women over 
[[Page H1764]] age 50 have a mammogram every year. It is time that 
Medicare follow this recommendation and allow for yearly mammograms.
  This legislation will ensure that women are not denied access to a 
life-saving diagnostic tool simply because a birthday has passed.
  Please support the Older Women's Breast Cancer Detection Act.
  

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