[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 60 (Monday, April 16, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      NATIONAL BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER EARLY DETECTION PROGRAM 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2007

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. 
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women 
and the leading cause of cancer death among women under the age of 40. 
Early detection and education are key to winning this battle. It is 
imperative that we reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer 
Early Detection Act, H.R. 1132, so that all women are given access to 
free and low-cost breast and cervical screenings. No woman should be 
denied these life-saving screenings simply because they cannot afford 
them. Further, all women should be made aware of the benefits of each 
screening and the risks of these cancers through public education 
programs.
  This issue is very important within my District of Marin and Sonoma 
Counties in California, and especially so in Marin County because it 
has the highest rate of breast cancer in the country. Among white 
women, aged 45 to 64, the breast cancer rate in Marin has increased 72 
percent in the last decade. Marin County's rates are approximately 40 
percent higher than the national average and about 30 percent higher 
than the rest of the Bay Area. This is why early detection and 
education in women of all ages is so important.
  In addition to this important legislation, we need to do more to 
prevent breast cancer deaths in women under the age of 40. 
Approximately 11,000 women under the age of 40 will be diagnosed with 
breast cancer this year, of which nearly 1,300 will die. That's why I 
introduced the Annie Fox Act, H.R. 715, named after a young woman in my 
district who was diagnosed with breast cancer and died at the age of 
35. This bill will authorize research into the causes of breast cancer 
in younger woman and educate them about the risks of breast cancer.
  It is important that we not only continue to fund preventative 
screenings, education and research for women over the ages of 45, but 
that we also do so for our younger women so that they may live long, 
healthy lives.
  I applaud the passage of this important legislation and look forward 
to working with my colleagues to pass H.R. 715, the Annie Fox Act.

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