[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HEMATOLOGICAL CANCER RESEARCH INVESTMENT AND EDUCATION ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 30, 2002

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to pay 
tribute to my good friend and distinguished former member of New York's 
congressional delegation Geraldine Ferraro. Last week on the House 
floor, during the debate on H.R. 2629, the Hematological Cancer 
Research Investment and Education Act, several members spoke of Ms. 
Ferraro's work on behalf of this legislation. I would like to join my 
colleagues in praise of Geraldine Ferraro.
  Ms. Ferraro continues to be an inspiration to all citizens of this 
country by her life-long devotion to public service. Her recent 
decision to forego her privacy and disclose her personal struggle with 
blood cancer, in order to raise public awareness of the disease, is yet 
another example of her courage and compassion. In 2002, approximately 
106,000 individuals will be diagnosed with hematological cancers, 
including leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 
multiple myeloma. Taken together, the hematological cancers are fifth 
among cancers in incidence. Although there has been impressive progress 
in the last 50 years in understanding the cause and treatment of blood-
related cancers, much more research needs to be done. Ms. Ferraro's 
advocacy for more research has resulted in the ``Geraldine Ferraro 
Cancer Education Program'' which provides funding for the treatment and 
detection of blood-related cancers.
  Ms. Ferraro has been a hero of mine for a long time. We both started 
our careers as teachers in the New York City school system. Before she 
changed history by being the first woman vice-presidential candidate on 
a national party ticket, she spearheaded efforts to pass the Equal 
Rights Amendment (ERA) while serving in Congress. I am proud to 
continue the work begun by Ms. Ferraro more than 20 years ago by 
sponsoring the current equality amendment (H.J. Res 40). I can think of 
no better tribute to Ms. Ferraro than passage of the equality amendment 
in the 107th Congress.
  Passage of H.J. Res. 40 will improve the quality of life for women in 
this country which is Ms. Ferraro's legacy. In addition to the ERA, Ms. 
Ferraro sponsored the women's Economic Equity Act, which ended pension 
discrimination against women, provided job options for displaced 
homemakers and enabled homemakers to open IRAs. After she left 
Congress, she served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations 
Human Rights Commission. In September 1995, she served as Vice-Chair of 
the U.S. Delegation at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in 
Beijing. I was also honored to be a member of the delegation.
  We are all indebted to Geraldine Ferraro for her courage and 
resilience in facing difficult issues. I wish to publicly commend her 
for her remarkable career in public service which continues today 
through her personal efforts to increase understanding of blood-related 
cancers.




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