[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H572-H573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER TREATMENT ACT OF 1999

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I would like to 
highlight an issue that is of great importance to the future of our 
wonderful country. I want to talk about a rapidly-growing, pervasive 
disease that is affecting the stability of many families and many homes 
throughout our land.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about breast and cervical cancer 
and how it is up to each and every one of us to eradicate this disease, 
and how each one of us could be faced with the opportunity to help 
eradicate these diseases by cosponsoring the bill sponsored by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), The Breast and Cervical Cancer 
Treatment Act of 1999.
  Breast and cervical cancer do not discriminate. These diseases can 
affect every mother, daughter, sister, including ours. And although 
these diseases are not as of yet preventable, they can be stopped in 
their tracks with treatment if they are detected early in their 
development.
  Congress has gone as far as passing the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention's Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, 
and this provides screening for women who do not have health insurance 
coverage and who do not qualify for either Medicaid nor Medicare. While 
this was a great advancement, it became evident that it was only an 
initial step and that a more viable yet long-term solution was needed. 
What is needed is funding for treatment services once a woman is 
diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer.
  What happens to the woman who is diagnosed with this through the 
Federal CDC program and is not able, not financially able to afford 
treatment? Should she be left to die? Should she be forced to spend her 
days holding bake sales and car washes to get the funds needed to treat 
her potentially fatal disease? Should she be forced to let time elapse 
as she scrambles for money from various health care agencies and 
dwindling State funds?
  Unfortunately, this is the scenario that is occurring in the lives of 
many women who are diagnosed positively through the CDC program. In my 
congressional district of Miami, for example, Mr. Speaker, a lady named 
Yolanda qualified for a free mammogram screening, and after suspicious 
results, was recommended for a surgical biopsy. This recommendation 
took place a year ago, yet Yolanda has yet to undergo a biopsy for fear 
of placing an even bigger financial burden on her husband, who holds 
only a low-paying job.
  Another constituent of my congressional district named Maria was 
recommended to undergo diagnostic procedures after an abnormal 
screening in 1996. Although she qualified for free diagnostic 
procedures, she was told that treatment would not be covered. As a 
result, Maria has yet to undergo these necessary procedures for fear 
that she would not be able to pay for treatment if, in fact, the 
treatment is needed.
  The bill of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), The Breast and 
Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, will put an end to the cruel and 
heartbreaking irony of providing screenings, yet no treatment. His bill 
will provide States an optional Medicaid benefit to provide coverage 
for treatment to low-income women screened and diagnosed with breast 
and cervical cancer through the CDC early detection program.
  Fortunately, the number of women who need actual treatment for these 
cancers are not many. In fact, through the CDC program less than 4,000 
women have been diagnosed with breast cancer and less than 350 women 
have been diagnosed with cervical cancer over a period of 9 years. With 
little cost to the taxpayer, the legislation of the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Lazio) would positively impact the lives of thousands of 
women and their families by providing guaranteed access to treatment.
  I salute the National Breast Cancer Coalition and especially my 
constituent, Jane Torres, who is the President of the Florida Breast 
Cancer Coalition, for bringing this important issue to the forefront of 
our agenda. Through their many years of hard work and dedication to 
advocate sufficient funding for research and education, and for 
ensuring quality in health care for all without fear of discrimination, 
many of these women have been helped.
  Before my colleagues prepare to go back to their districts, I hope 
that all of us in the Congress will remember the Yolandas and the 
Marias in their

[[Page H573]]

districts as well. I hope that they will acknowledge the many cases 
that resemble theirs and the many women who are counting on us to do 
the right thing. I hope that all of us will support The Breast and 
Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, to give women a fighting chance against 
this disease and to truly reduce the incidence of death from breast and 
cervical cancer.

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