[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 146 (Friday, October 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 17, 2003

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
remind my colleagues that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness 
Month and today, October 17, 2003, is especially important as National 
Mammography Day. Today we celebrate the significant contributions that 
early detection through mammography has made in reducing deaths from 
breast cancer.
  And tomorrow, on October 18th, thousands of people in my district in 
Dallas, TX, will turn out for the Race for the Cure 5K event sponsored 
by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, headquartered in 
Dallas. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the celebrated Komen 
Race for the Cure Series. The first Race for the Cure was held in 1983 
in Dallas with 800 participants. At a time when breast cancer remained 
a taboo topic for many people, this life-affirming event was a public 
way to discuss breast cancer issues positively and meaningfully. Breast 
cancer survivors were celebrated, and those who had lost their battle 
with the disease were honored by their friends and family. In addition, 
participants were able to do something healthy and proactive to support 
the cause. The event was a tremendous success and quickly gained 
momentum and visibility. Today, the Komen Foundation hosts Race for the 
Cure events in 112 U.S. cities and in two foreign countries with nearly 
1.5 million participants each year, making it the largest series of 5K 
events in the world. Each participant receives the life-saving message 
of early detection. Perhaps most importantly, the Komen Race for the 
Cure has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for critical breast 
cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.
  This year, more than 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast 
cancer and nearly 40,000 women will die from this disease. Every 3 
minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and every 13 minutes a 
woman dies from this disease. Breast cancer is the leading cause of 
death among women ages 40-59. Men also succumb to this disease, 
particularly in the elderly African American male population.
  All of us here today will be touched by breast cancer in some way 
during our lifetimes. There is no simple way to prevent breast cancer, 
but there are ways to detect it early, at a time when patients have 
more treatment options and a greater chance of survival. The most 
effective method used today in detecting breast cancer early is 
mammography screening.
  Today, to celebrate ``National Mammography Day,'' the Komen 
Foundation is launching a campaign to urge Congress to renew the 
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). 
Unfortunately, the authorization for this highly successful program 
expired on September 30, 2003. Congress must move immediately to 
reauthorize the NBCCEDP program at a higher funding level of $250 
million for FY2005.
  By reauthorizing the program and providing at least $250 million for 
the program, Congress will help provide low-cost mammograms and follow-
up care to thousands of women who otherwise could not afford these 
potentially life-saving services. The NBCCEDP is essential to help 
eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Since the 
program's inception 13 years ago: approximately 2 million women have 
been screened, mammography use has increased by approximately 20 
percent among women over 50 years of age, and nearly 13,000 cases of 
breast cancer have been detected.
  The tragic fact is that the current NBCCEDP funding level allows it 
to cover only about 18 percent to 20 percent of the eligible 
population--which means that four out of five eligible women are not 
being served. Additional funding is needed to ensure that no eligible 
woman is denied quality screening and care. Raising the funding to $250 
million next year would enable the NBCCEDP to provide approximately 
122,000 additional screenings to women in need next year.
  During my tenure in Congress and the Texas State Legislature, I have 
always strived to ensure that America has the resources needed to 
combat the terrible diseases that plague our communities. I absolutely 
share your support for an increase in funding for stronger medical 
research. As a former nurse, that's why I support the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is an investment that saves lives, and 
helps Americans to live longer and to live better.
  That is why I am so proud to be a cosponsor of the Breast Cancer 
Patient Protection Act of 2003 (H.R. 1886), the Mammogram Availability 
Act of 2003 (H.R. 736), and the Better Screening Test for Women Act 
(H.R. 1241). H.R. 1886 improves treatment for breast cancer patients. 
H.R. 736 requires that health insurance companies provide coverage for 
annual screening mammography for women 40 years of age or older. H.R. 
1241 authorizes additional appropriations to the National Institutes of 
Health for research on early detection of breast cancer.
  To help recognize National Mammography Day, and make it much more 
than just a commemorative day, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
calling for the immediate reauthorization of the National Breast and 
Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program at $250 million and more for 
the coming years. We owe nothing less to our grandmothers, mothers, 
daughters, sisters and the men in our lives in the race to find a cure 
for breast cancer.

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