[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E947]]
                  THE WISEWOMAN EXPANSI0N ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2000

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to introduce the 
``WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across 
the Nation) Expansion Act of 2000'' with my colleague, Congressman 
James Leach, the Co-Chair of the Congressional Prevention Coalition.
  This legislation would allow the highly successful WISEWOMAN 
demonstration project, currently operating in four states, to expand to 
other states that qualify. The ``WISEWOMAN Expansion Act'' would 
authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make 
competitive grants to states to carry out further preventive health 
services, in addition to the breast and cervical cancer screenings that 
the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Programs 
(NBCCEDP) currently provide. Examples of these additional vital 
services include screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and 
osteoporosis; health education and counseling; lifestyle interventions 
to change behavioral risk factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, 
poor nutrition, and sedentary lifestyle; and appropriate referrals for 
medical treatment and follow-up services.
  The need for this program is clear. Each year, nearly half a million 
women lose their lives as a result of heart disease and stroke. Many of 
us associate cardiovascular disease with men, but the American Heart 
Association estimates that nearly one in two women will die of heart 
disease or stroke. In fact, cardiovascular diseases kills nearly 50,000 
more women each year than men. Sadly, many of these deaths could have 
been prevented. Had these women known they were at risk for 
cardiovascular disease, they could have taken preventive measures to 
lower their risk factors and perhaps prevent heart disease and stroke. 
Osteoporosis, affecting half of all women over the age of 50, is also a 
preventable disease. Fortunately, some of the preventive measures women 
can take to reduce their risk for cardiovascular diseases, such as 
eating more nutritious foods and exercising, can also reduce their risk 
for osteoporosis.
  The bill would also add flexibility to the program language that 
would allow screenings and other preventive measures for diseases in 
addition to cardiovascular diseases, such as osteoporosis, as more 
preventive technology becomes available. It would allow flexibility for 
the WISEWOMAN program to grow and adapt with the needs of individual 
states and would ensure full collaboration of the WISEWOMAN program 
with the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program 
(NBCCEDP).
  States would be eligible for this program only if they already 
participate in the NBCCEDP and agree to operate their WISEWOMAN program 
in strong collaboration with the NBCCEDP. The bill would authorize 
funding to carry out this program at a level of $20 million for fiscal 
year 2001, $25 million for fiscal year 2002, for $30 million for fiscal 
year 2003, and ``such sums'' as necessary for each subsequent year.
  Early prevention of cardiovascular disease stroke and osteoporosis 
would result in a substantial cost-savings for our health care system, 
but more importantly, it would improve the quality of life for our 
mothers, our sisters, our daughters and our friends. If we can reach 
women who are at high risk early in their lives, assist them in 
altering their behavior to live healthier lifestyles, we could prevent 
countless diseases and injuries and ultimately, we would save lives. I 
urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

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