[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 70 (Tuesday, June 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H3391-H3393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH REGARD TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH WEEK
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 833) expressing the sense of the House
of Representatives with regard to the importance of National Women's
Health Week, which promotes awareness of diseases that affect women and
which encourages women to take preventive measures to ensure good
health, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 833
Whereas women of all backgrounds have the power to greatly
reduce their risk of common diseases through preventive
measures such as a healthy lifestyle and frequent medical
screenings;
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Whereas significant disparities exist in the prevalence of
disease among women of different backgrounds, including women
with disabilities, African American women, Asian/Pacific
Islander women, Latinas, and American Indian/Alaska Native
women;
Whereas since healthy habits should begin at a young age,
and preventive care saves Federal dollars designated to
health care, it is important to raise awareness among women
and girls of key female health issues;
Whereas National Women's Health Week begins on Mother's Day
annually and celebrates the efforts of national and community
organizations working with partners and volunteers to improve
awareness of key women's health issues; and
Whereas in 2006, the week of May 14 through May 20, is
dedicated as the National Women's Health Week: Now therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the importance of preventing diseases that
commonly affect women;
(2) calls on the people of the United States to use
National Women's Health Week as an opportunity to learn about
health issues that face women;
(3) calls on the women of the United States to observe
National Women's Check-Up Day by receiving preventive
screenings from their health care providers; and
(4) recognizes the importance of programs that provide
research and collect data on common diseases in women.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Deal) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks on this legislation, and to insert extraneous material on
the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 833, authored by Mr.
Hinchey, Mrs. Bono and Mrs. Capps, expressing the sense of Congress on
the importance of Women's Health Week.
Each year Women's Health Week promotes awareness about steps women
can take to improve their health. The focus is on the importance of
incorporating simple, preventative, and positive health behaviors into
women's everyday lives.
When women take simple steps to improve their health, the results can
be significant. Many of the leading causes of death among women, such
as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes are preventable and
treatable if the warning signs are recognized.
Events like National Women's Health Week and National Women's Checkup
Day are great opportunities to tell someone you love that their health
is important. Remind a mother, sister, spouse, daughter or friend to
get regular checkups, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, quit
smoking, and follow safety rules.
I commend the hundreds of volunteers, women's groups, health
organizations, businesses, and charitable organizations who have helped
to make National Women's Health Week a success.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the resolution in
recognition of National Women's Health Week.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 833, which
celebrates National Women's Health Week. I would like to thank my
colleagues, Mr. Hinchey, Mrs. Bono, and Mr. Hayworth, for their work on
this issue, as well as our chairman, Mr. Deal.
This week is celebrated annually in order to raise awareness about
diseases and conditions that specifically affect women. This also
includes how common diseases affect women differently than they affect
men. For too long research lacked gender specificity, and because of
that, we lacked vital information about how women experience disease
differently from men. This is especially true with respect to heart
disease, and that happens to be the number one killer of women.
Women's Health Week is also a time to raise awareness about important
preventive care measures that all women should take. With the growing
number of uninsured in this country, it is no surprise that women are
skipping doctor visits that ought to be routine. Knowing that this is
especially true for low-income women and minority women, I applaud
national efforts to use National Women's Health Week as a time to offer
free screenings and conduct outreach to communities that are often left
behind.
National Women's Health Week is not just a concept, but it truly is a
large-scale effort by individuals, government, local and national
organizations in order to highlight practical steps women can take to
improve their lives and their health.
During this week, women can access essential checkups, services like
mammograms and bone density screenings. These screenings can catch
serious conditions like breast cancer early before it is life-
threatening, and osteoporosis before it results in fractures.
I support this resolution celebrating National Women's Health Week
because it focuses attention on gender disparities in health care
delivery. I urge my colleagues to support it as well.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.
Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Hinchey).
Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend and colleague, the
gentlewoman from California, for organizing the time for this
discussion this evening.
I think this resolution before us at the moment is very, very
important. It calls upon the House of Representatives to recognize the
importance of National Women's Health Week. The importance of National
Women's Health Week is to draw people's attention from all across our
country to the issues that affect the health of women in America. And
those issues affect women of all ages.
One of the things that we are attempting to do with regard to
National Women's Health Week is to draw attention to the necessity to
try to live better lifestyles, healthier lifestyles, and to take
advantage of the opportunities for medical screening.
{time} 2045
One of the unfortunate situations that we confront in our country, of
course, is the fact that we still do not have a system of national
health insurance. And so consequently, many women will not be able to
take advantage of opportunities to get medical screening because they
do not have insurance.
But, in the meantime, this resolution focuses attention on the need
to live healthier lifestyles, to be aware of the various diseases and
other health concerns that affect women, to take the necessary
precautions to deal with those issues, to live the healthiest possible
lifestyle, and to get the best appropriate medical attention.
It also thanks all of the agencies, and organizations across our
country that devote their time and attention to the issue of womens'
health. Womens' health is important for all of us, and that is why this
resolution is so important for the Members of this House and for all of
our constituents all across America.
I ask my colleagues to devote their attention to this resolution, to
support it favorably, and to ensure its passage, because this issue is
critically important to every single family in America. I ask that we
give it the appropriate attention that it deserves and that the
resolution be passed unanimously.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I do have an additional speaker who
has arrived. I am pleased to recognize my colleague from Georgia, Dr.
Phil Gingrey, for 2 minutes.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Chairman Deal of the
Health Subcommittee of Energy and Commerce. I thank Representative
Hinchey and Representative Capps and all Members who bring this
resolution, 833, before us this evening.
Those of us involved in health care, like Representative Capps, as a
registered nurse, and myself, as a physician, and not only a physician,
but also a specialist dealing with women's health issues, as an OB-GYN,
understand the importance of recognizing that this is National Women's
Health
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Week. It promotes awareness of diseases that specifically affect women
and encourage them to take preventive measures to ensure good health.
It is a time when we need to tell all the women in our lives, our
mothers, our wives, our sisters, our daughters, our aunts, in my case,
my children and grandchildren, and friends, how important it is to take
time out for their health. It can be as simple as taking the stairs
instead of an elevator, eating healthier or scheduling an appointment
with a health care provider.
Mr. Speaker, as an OB-GYN physician for nearly 30 years, I cannot
stress enough how important a good relationship with your doctor is in
maintaining your health. Women need to have conversations with their
physicians regarding family history. They clearly need to understand
the importance of screening tests and how to manage chronic diseases.
I want all of America's women to take a moment to focus on promoting
health and preventing disease and illness by taking very simple steps
to improve their physical, mental, social and spiritual health.
And I thank the chairman for allowing me to address this issue.
Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I actually have no additional speakers, and
so I would yield back the balance of my time, by urging our entire body
to follow as we seem to be in unanimity here this evening discussing
this legislation that we adopt this resolution unanimously in the House
as well.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time
and therefore, I would yield back the balance of my time and urge the
adoption of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California). The
question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Deal) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H.
Res. 833, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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