[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 24, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2553-H2554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani) for 5 minutes.
Mr. CISCOMANI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Skin Cancer Awareness
Month to raise awareness of the most common and often avoidable form of
cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer. Nationwide, 3.3 million cases are
reported annually, including over 13,000 in Pima County alone.
Sun exposure on unprotected skin is the primary cause of skin cancer,
and it is a year-round threat. Other risk factors include the use of
tanning equipment, family history, and increasing age.
Typically, this type of cancer is treated with Mohs surgery, but
today I am pleased to note a nonsurgical alternative is available in
Arizona, which means those afraid of surgery can now seek treatment.
I congratulated Tucson dermatologist Marc Epstein for being the first
in southern Arizona to provide this new standard of care. This method
avoids all potential complications of surgery, using a low-level x-ray
precisely targeted through the use of ultrasound imaging, with a rate
of cure of over 99 percent.
Given that most States now offer this nonsurgical treatment, and more
than 50,000 patients have been treated successfully with it, no one
should avoid timely treatment for this common skin cancer.
This month and always, I hope all Arizonans will take the simple skin
care precautions necessary to prevent skin cancer.
Protecting Unaccompanied Minors
Mr. CISCOMANI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shine light on yet
another tragedy unfolding at our southern border.
We have all seen the surge of border crossings, fentanyl trafficking,
and migrant deaths brought about by President Biden's mishandling of
the border.
Recently, The New York Times investigated the treatment of migrant
children by the Department of Health and Human Services. They found
that the Department had lost contact with over 85,000 migrant children
after placement with sponsors.
What is even worse, hundreds of these children have been found in
work environments that defy child labor laws, some working 12-hour days
in hazardous conditions.
[[Page H2554]]
In an effort to rush migrants out of government custody, HHS' lack of
vetting has put vulnerable children directly in harm's way.
As an immigrant myself, and especially as a father, it is
heartbreaking to imagine the neglect that these innocent children have
endured, first as a casualty of the border crisis and now by the
agencies tasked with rescuing them. It is a national tragedy and an
embarrassment to allow this exploitation to continue.
I am proud to be a first-generation American who has benefited from
the freedoms and opportunities of this country. This is not the best
that America has to offer. What is happening at the border is not part
of the American Dream my family pursued and thousands of other families
continue to pursue.
We have seen babies abandoned in rivers, migrants dying in deserts,
and high-speed car chases through our neighborhoods.
Last month, I led 75 of my colleagues in a letter to Biden
administration officials demanding accountability for this terrible
neglect. We carried out our constitutional duty of oversight and set a
deadline for Secretary Mayorkas and Secretary Becerra to provide
transparency. The deadline was 12 days ago. With the Biden
administration refusing to take action to prevent another surge at the
border, it is hard to see what exactly these officials are preoccupied
with.
This must be a top priority. Focusing on border security isn't just
about keeping Americans safe, it is about stopping an ongoing
humanitarian crisis.
As we speak, lives are being put at risk, migrants are being
exploited, and the only people winning are the cartels leveraging this
administration's weak border policy.
I urge President Biden and his Cabinet to accept accountability for
this disaster and implement the border security measures our country
desperately needs. There is no time to waste.
____________________