[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1796-E1797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF THE MARCH--COMING TOGETHER TO CONQUER CANCER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 1998

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, this weekend, hundreds of thousands of 
Americans will participate in The March--a rally to raise public 
awareness in support of the fight to end cancer. A high-profile 
gathering led by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, Vice President Al Gore, and 
others will be held on the National Mall, and similar events are 
planned in communities around the country. This week is also ``Prostate 
Cancer Awareness Week,'' and October is ``National Breast Cancer 
Awareness Month.''
  Cancer causes one of every four deaths in the United States. 
Tragically, about 1.2 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 
1998, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC). CDC estimates that half a million people will lose their lives 
to cancer this year--more than 1,500 people a day. Despite these 
sobering statistics, however, there is reason for renewed hope in the 
``War on Cancer.''
  A recent report by CDC, the American Cancer Society and the National 
Cancer Institute showed cancer incidence and death rates for all 
cancers combined actually declined between 1990 and 1995--reversing an 
almost 20-year trend of increasing cancer cases and deaths in the 
United States. The report recognized, however, that ``the declines in 
cancer incidence and deaths have not been seen for all Americans and 
that our collective efforts must be directed at reaching populations 
with a disproportionate cancer burden.''
  While we seek to give hope to cancer patients and their loved ones, 
we must not let optimism breed complacency. Instead, events like The 
March should heighten our determination to win the war.
  As Chairman of the Health and Environment Subcommittee, I believe the 
federal government can and should do more to support ongoing research 
efforts. Specifically, I support an increased financial commitment to 
biomedical research, which is necessary to find a cure for cancer.
  To that end, I have endorsed a proposal to double federal funding for 
the National Institutes for Health over the next five years. I have 
also authored legislation to provide additional funding for NIH 
research efforts. The bill, H.R. 3563, the Biomedical Research 
Assistance Voluntary Option (BRAVO) Act, would allow taxpayers to 
designate a portion of their federal income tax refund to support 
biomedical research through the National Institutes of Health.
  Last year, Congress approved $40 million in funding for prostate 
cancer research within the Department of Defense. I was pleased to 
support this measure when it was considered by the House of 
Representatives. I also supported a recent effort to increase funding 
by joining Representatives Sherrod Brown, Bill Goodling and a 
bipartisan coalition of my colleagues in requesting $60 million for 
this important program in the Fiscal Year 1999 appropriations measure.
  In March, my Subcommittee held a hearing on the process for setting 
research priorities at

[[Page E1797]]

the National Institutes of Health. Following the hearing, I wrote to 
NIH Director Harold Varmus to urge increased attention to prostate 
cancer and breast cancer research.
  In July, my Subcommittee held a hearing to shed light on the many 
recent developments in cancer-related research. This forum provided an 
opportunity to gain knowledge from the experiences of a distinguished 
group of cancer researchers, all of whom are recognized as leading 
experts in their field of practice.
  Earlier this month, I was proud to secure approval by the House of 
Representatives of H.R. 4382, legislation to reauthorize the 
Mammography Quality Standards Act. This important law was enacted in 
1992 to improve the quality of breast cancer screening exams by 
establishing national standards for mammography facilities. Without 
question, it has been an overwhelming success.
  Screening mammography is currently the most effective technique for 
early detection of breast cancer. This procedure can identify small 
tumors and breast abnormalities up to two years before they can be 
detected by touch. More than 90 percent of these early stage cancers 
can be cured, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
  The use of screening mammography provides a ray of hope in the fight 
against breast cancer. Early detection of breast cancer through 
accurate and reliable mammograms can spare women from undergoing 
radical surgery--and often save their lives. Enactment of H.R. 4382 
will help reduce the threat of breast cancer by providing women the 
tools they need to detect this terrible disease in its early stages.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend all of the volunteers who 
have worked as tireless advocates of cancer research. Events like The 
March remind us all of the terrible toll cancer extracts each year in 
our nation. For the hundreds of thousands of patients, families, 
caregivers and friends whose lives have been touched by cancer, we 
should renew and strengthen our commitment to ending this terrible 
disease.

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