[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR A STUDY OF BREAST CANCER

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 23, 1997

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, joined by a bipartisan 
group of my colleagues, to introduce legislation critical to the State 
of New Jersey.
  This bill will authorize funding for a study focusing on the link 
between environmental factors and genetic susceptibilities toward 
breast cancer. The study will be conducted by the New Jersey University 
of the Health Sciences in consultation with the New Jersey Department 
of Health and Senior Services.
  Breast cancer is an epidemic in our country. It is reported that 
every 3 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with the disease and every 11 
minutes a woman dies from it. In this year alone, more than 44,000 
women will from breast cancer--these women, who are our mothers, 
spouses, siblings, children, or friends.
  These numbers are especially alarming in the State of New Jersey, 
which has the second highest breast cancer mortality rate of any State 
in the country. The American Cancer Society estimates 6,400 new cases 
of breast cancer in New Jersey in 1997 and 1,800 estimated deaths.
  While we have made some strides in raising awareness about the need 
for early detection and some strides in research, we still do not have 
a cure nor do we know what causes the devastating disease. That is why 
I am introducing this legislation, to direct more funding to study the 
disease and potential causes of it.
  Because of its dense population, the State of New Jersey has many 
unique environmental concerns that may have some link to our high 
incidents of breast cancer. The State's University of Health Sciences 
is one of only seven joint centers in the United States that house a 
National Cancer Institute designated research center and a National 
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences research center. The New 
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services also oversees a 
statewide cancer registry and is advanced in its cancer research 
programs.
  While this potential study is critical to women and families in New 
Jersey, the results of the study are equally important to the 1 in 8 
women that will be diagnosed nationally with breast cancer each year, 
to their children and families. Consequently, I urge the support of my 
colleagues for swift passage of this bill.

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