[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 87 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          H.R. 1070, BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER TREATMENT ACT

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                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 18, 1999

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
bipartisan Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, H.R. 1070. This 
important legislation will help women beat back the ravages of breast 
and cervical cancer and save lives.
  Every year, Cervical cancer kills 4,400 women and breast cancer kills 
over 46,000 women and is the leading cause of death among women between 
40 and 45. This bill builds on a current program which covers screening 
services, but does not cover treatment for women who are detected with 
cancer. The bipartisan Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act takes 
the vital next step to offer lifesaving treatment to cancer victims.
  The medical community has the technology to detect and treat breast 
and cervical cancer. This bill will strengthen the existing ad hoc 
patchwork of providers, volunteers, and local programs that often 
results in unpredictable, delayed, or incomplete. The bill will offer 
consistent, reliable method of treatment for uninsured and underinsured 
women fighting breast or cervical cancer.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that H.R. 1070 has 248 co-sponsors. 
I want to compliment Representative Eshoo on her work on this issue. 
However, I am not pleased with the Republican leadership which has 
given inadequate attention to this bill. The Republican controlled 
House has not even held a Committee hearing on the ``Breast and 
Cervical Cancer Treatment Act''. This bill has enough co-sponsors to 
pass. We should pass this legislation and help save the lives of women.

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