[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4576) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes.

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, today I rise for women across 
the country as Co-Vice Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's 
Issues and for the women of California and Los Angeles, in particular, 
to praise the work of Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Murtha for 
ensuring critical funding is provided for the Department of Defense 
Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program.
  California, as one of the most populous states has a corresponding 
high degree of breast cancer deaths and in 1990, over 25 percent of 
these deaths occurred in the Los Angeles area alone. Nationally, an 
estimated 2.6 million women--one in eight women--are currently living 
with breast cancer.
  As the leading cause of cancer deaths among women aged 40-59, it is 
second only to lung cancer in the number of cancer deaths. It is 
estimated that 40,800 women will die of breast cancer this year. 
African American women currently have the shortest life expectancy. The 
need for research to reduce the number of deaths among all women and 
stop this disparity in life expectancy between Caucasian women and 
women of color is unequivocal.
  The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are simply being 
female and growing older. The majority of women with breast cancer have 
no known significant family history or other known risk factors. In 
fact, only 5-10% of breast cancers are due to heredity. Therefore, 
research that is conducted by the Defense Department as well as by the 
National Institutes of Health is imperative for all women.
  Thanks to the bipartisan leadership and dedication of the Defense 
Appropriations Subcommittee, the breast cancer research program 
continues to grow and provide innovative ways of fighting this disease. 
On behalf of the women of California and women across the country, I 
thank Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Murtha for their commitment to 
this issue.

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