[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 155 (Thursday, October 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

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                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 2003

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, this year an estimated 40,000 mothers, 
sisters, daughters, friends and loved ones will die of breast cancer, 
and more than 210,000 new cases will be diagnosed. Throughout the month 
we have remembered those that have fallen victim to this disease, 
celebrated those who have survived it, raised awareness about the 
progress we've made, and called on scientists to aggressively continue 
the search for a cure.
  Today, Democrats and Republicans, men and women alike are on the 
House floor to say--while we have made progress, further gains require 
a sustained commitment to expanding the national investment in cancer 
research, prevention, treatment, and outreach programs.
  It is hard to believe, but when I was first appointed to the 
Appropriations Committee in 1991, the Federal government was spending 
just $133 million on breast cancer each year. That investment has 
increased dramatically--to more than $1.3 billion--between spending at 
the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense.
  This is remarkable, but all of the research in the world won't make a 
difference unless it is put into practice. That is why we must continue 
to invest in the Centers for Disease Control's Breast and Cervical 
Cancer screening program and better mammogram training and oversight to 
improve radiologists' ability to interpret mammograms.
  We must also ramp-up efforts to find new and superior ways to detect 
breast cancer and study the relationship between breast cancer and the 
environment.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe, while the government cannot cure cancer, it 
can put the resources in the hands of scientists who will. Together--
along with advocates, survivors, scientists, and doctors--we can go the 
distance and stop this disease.

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