[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 143 (Tuesday, October 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE MISSION AND GOALS OF NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS 
                                 MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2009

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the observance 
of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This October 2009, we 
celebrate the 25th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness 
Month and honor those women who lost their lives to the disease, along 
with those who are fighting the disease and those who are survivors.
  For the past quarter century, October has been dedicated to the 
awareness and education of breast cancer. This monthly observance, most 
notably marked by the color pink which is now recognized worldwide as 
the color of breast cancer awareness, has also allowed us to trace the 
tremendous milestones in science and innovation that are producing 
promising results to combat the disease, such as proven better 
treatment and lower fatality rates.
  I am currently a co-sponsor of H.R. 1691: The ``Breast Cancer Patient 
Protection Act of 2009'' introduced in this Congress by my colleague 
from Connecticut, Rep. Rosa DeLauro. The legislation requires health 
plans to provide coverage for a minimum hospital stay for mastectomies, 
lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection for the treatment of breast 
cancer and coverage for secondary consultations. Currently, the 
legislation is before the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways 
and Means and Education and Labor. I urge my colleagues to take steps 
toward bringing this legislation for a vote on the House floor as soon 
as possible.
  This year alone, more than 190,000 new cases of invasive breast 
cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States, 
and an estimated 40,170 women are expected to die from the disease. 
With those statistics in mind, I encourage all women over the age of 40 
to put their health first this month. That may mean taking 
precautionary steps, such as doing yearly mammograms and other early 
detection procedures.
  On this silver anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 
I honor those women who are currently fighting the disease and extend 
to them my warmest blessings for a speedy recovery.

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