[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 40 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H2564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           COLORECTAL CANCER

  (Mr. BURTON of Indiana asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
New York [Mr. Towns].
  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the health issue 
that is very important to a vulnerable population; namely, Medicare 
beneficiaries. This year, colorectal cancer will claim an estimated 
54,000 lives. This is the second leading cancer killer in the United 
States; 134,000 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this 
year, most of them in the elderly population. And we are talking about 
cutting Medicare.
  Madam Speaker, we know that early detection will save lives and save 
money. The technology exists to eradicate more than 90 percent of 
colorectal cancer in this country. Let us work toward a Medicare 
package or preventative benefits, one which will include colorectal 
cancer screening. It makes good health sense, and it makes good 
economic sense.
  I urge my colleagues to move forward in addressing this disease in 
the Medicare population, the group most vulnerable to colorectal 
cancer.

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