[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 156 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2180-E2181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REGARDING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

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                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 2003

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, every 12 minutes a woman in America dies 
of breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but I am 
not sure that awareness is the right word. Unfortunately, many of us 
are painfully aware. Many, if not all of us have known someone who has 
fought against this devastating disease. I would like to express my 
deep appreciation to the many soldiers in the battle against breast 
cancer. There are too many to name right now, but their dedication and 
tireless efforts are critical and so deeply appreciated by us all.
  A recent study found that the presence of mutated BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 
genes made cancer risk soar. This information proves that passage of 
legislation such as the Genetic Non-Discrimination in Health Insurance 
and Employment Act is imperative. Mr. Speaker, I am a cosponsor of this 
bipartisan legislation, which has 230 cosponsors. By not acting on this 
legislation, we are placing women's health in jeopardy on a daily 
basis. Women are not being tested because they fear they will be 
discriminated against by their insurer should they test positive. This 
is unconscionable.
  This body has begun the job of funding the National Institutes of 
Health and cancer research over the past five years. However, our work 
is not done. It is imperative that we are able to fund new research and 
continue existing research. In order to ensure that progress is not 
lost and valuable information left uncovered, we must continue to 
increase funding for the National Institutes of Health.

[[Page E2181]]

  One of the things I am most proud to have motivated and enacted was 
the establishment of the Long Island Breast Cancer Study, a 
comprehensive effort to investigate whether environmental factors are 
responsible for breast cancer. The historic investigation began in 
1993, and was coordinated by the National Cancer Institute and the 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. When the study was 
released late last year, I was disappointed to find the study could not 
identify specific environmental factors from among the three compounds 
studied as a cause for breast cancer. Many of the other compounds 
remain to be ruled out; more funding and research are necessary. 
However, the lessons learned proved very important. Many of the results 
provided clues for future research. We must build on this information, 
we must try until we succeed because the alternative is much more 
costly.
  We need to work together to turn ``A-wareness'' into ``A-cure.''

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