[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE NATIVE AMERICAN BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER TREATMENT TECHNICAL 
                         AMENDMENT ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking 
Chairman Tauzin for allowing S. 1741, introduced by my good friend 
Senator Jeff Bingaman, to be considered by the House. I have 
appreciated working with him to bring S. 1741 to the floor and know 
that the issue of early detection and prevention holds a personal 
closeness to the both of us and to other members of this body.
  On April 3, 2001, I introduced H.R. 1383, the companion to S. 1741, 
along with Representatives Watts, Hayworth, Sherrod Brown, Camp, 
DeLauro, Kennedy, Kildee and over one hundred bi-partisan co-sponsors.
  The consideration of this legislation today represents the diligent 
and bi-partisan work over the last month and within the past few weeks 
and hours, by several Members of Congress and their staffs. The work of 
these individuals ensures that a simple but very important technical 
correction to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment and Prevention 
Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-354) will allow coverage of breast and cervical 
cancer treatment to Native American women.
  Mr. Speaker because of a technical definition in P.L. 106-345, 
American Indian and Native Alaskan women were and currently are 
excluded from this law's eligibility for treatment. And, as states 
determine whether to expand their Medicaid programs to provide breast 
and cervical cancer treatment as an optional benefit, passage of this 
legislation will ensure Native American and Alaskan Women are included 
to receive treatment.
  It is estimated that during 2001, almost 50,000 women are expected to 
die from breast or cervical cancer in the United States despite the 
fact that early detection and treatment of these diseases could 
substantially decrease this mortality. While passage of last year's 
bill made significant strides to address this problem, it failed to do 
so for Native American women and that is why we are here today.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, especially 
Representatives Watts, Sherrod Brown, Waxman, Camp, and Hayworth for 
working with me to bringing S. 1741 to the floor today. I especially 
want to thank Jack Horner of Representative J.C. Watt's Republican 
Conference staff, Tim Westmoreland of Henry Waxman's office, Katie 
Porter of Sherrod Brown's office, and Tony Martinez and Mike Collins of 
my office for their vigilant and diligent work to ensure that this 
legislation did not fall victim to the end-of-the-year crunch.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bi-partisan and 
important legislation so that we may send it to the President for his 
signature to ensure that Native American and Native Alaskan women are 
not denied life-saving breast and cervical cancer treatment.

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