[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 12754-12756]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORTING NATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH WEEK

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 120) supporting the goals and 
ideals of National Women's Health Week, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 120

       Whereas women of all backgrounds should be encouraged to 
     greatly reduce their risk of common diseases through 
     preventative measures, such as engaging in regular physical 
     activity, eating a nutritious diet, and visiting a healthcare 
     provider to receive regular check-ups and preventative 
     screenings;
       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/Alaskan Native 
     women;
       Whereas healthy habits should begin at a young age;
       Whereas preventative care saves Federal dollars designated 
     for health care;
       Whereas it is imperative to educate women and girls about 
     key female health issues;
       Whereas it is recognized that offices of women's health 
     within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Food 
     and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, 
     the National Institutes of Health, and the Agency for 
     Healthcare Research and Quality provide services that support 
     women's health research, education, and other services that 
     benefit women of all ages, races, and ethnicities;
       Whereas the annual National Women's Health Week begins on 
     Mother's Day 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 2009, the week of May 10 through May 16 is 
     designated National Women's Health Week: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the importance of preventing diseases that 
     commonly affect women;
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Women's 
     Health Week;
       (3) calls on the people of the United States to use 
     National Women's Health Week as an opportunity to learn about 
     the health issues women face;
       (4) calls on the women of the United States to observe 
     National Women's Check-Up Day by receiving preventative 
     screenings from their health care providers; and
       (5) recognizes the importance of Federal, State, and 
     private programs that provide research and collect data on 
     common diseases in women.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Capps) and the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. 
Blackburn) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 120, recognizing 
National Women's Health Week, and I'd like to commend my colleagues, 
Mr. Hinchey and Mrs. Bono Mack, for introducing this legislation.
  We have worked together on this recognition for several years now. 
This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Women's Health Week. 
It's an opportunity to recognize the progress made in women's health.
  Much of this progress is due to the offices of women's health in 
multiple key Federal agencies. These offices work to promote research 
on women's health issues and the provision of important women's health 
services. In fact, the office of Women's Health at the Department of 
Health and Human Services just celebrated 10 years of the 
womenshealth.gov Web site.
  What this resolution rightly notes is that women's health issues 
matter throughout a woman's lifespan. Promoting health education among 
girls and women of all ages will increase healthy behaviors and the use 
of important preventive screenings and services.
  This resolution also notes that there are significant disparities 
among women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds and women with 
disabilities, all of which must be considered and taken into account as 
we address women's health.
  I urge my colleagues to join in the bipartisan sponsorship of this 
bill and supporting National Women's Health Week.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to first express my appreciation to Mrs. Capps, who is also a 
member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and has been a very 
outspoken and consistent supporter of women's health and women's health 
issues, and we have worked on many of those in committee and certainly 
continue to raise awareness of women's health.
  One such instrument that is placed before us that we can use is 
National Women's Health Week, and May 10-16 was that week, and this is, 
as Mrs. Capps stated, the 10th annual National Women's Health Week. And 
I think it is so fitting, Mr. Speaker, that it was kicked off this year 
on Mother's Day and how very appropriate that it started on Mother's 
Day. And I think the gentlelady from California will join me in saying 
it's also Grandmother's Day, those of us who do delight in those 
grandchildren.
  The nationwide initiative empowers women across the country to make 
their health a top priority and ensure they take the steps to live a 
longer, healthier and happier life. And certainly, we are so pleased 
that there is that emphasis on women's health and having women make the 
decision to have their health and their well-being be a top priority in 
their life.
  I would like to express my gratitude to the national and community 
organizations in working to promote public awareness of National 
Women's Health Week and provide the proper information to encourage 
women and girls that healthy habits should begin at a very young age.

                              {time}  1315

  The efforts of the national community to support regular checkups and 
preventive screenings will help to prevent diseases that commonly 
affect women.
  I would also like to thank the author of the resolution, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) for taking his efforts and energy 
and his time in order to place an emphasis on women's health, and to 
say thank you for his leadership in improving awareness of women's key 
health issues.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of the resolution, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to yield to the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Hinchey) for such time as he may consume.
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment, first of 
all, to express my appreciation to Chairman Waxman for supporting this 
resolution and for helping to bring it to the floor today. Also, I 
would like to thank Mr. Hoyer for his determination in bringing this 
measure to the floor to honor National Women's Health Week, despite the 
very crowded schedule that we have.
  I would also like to thank Chairman Pallone and all the fine members 
of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for their work on 
women's

[[Page 12755]]

health issues and for making it possible for this resolution to reach 
the floor.
  Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my good friends 
Congresswoman Lois Capps and Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack for taking 
the lead with me on this resolution for the fourth time in a row. And 
Marsha, I thank you very much also for your statement today and your 
participation in getting this legislation passed.
  This resolution has the bipartisan sponsorship of 117 Members. The 
National Council of Women's Organizations fully endorsed this bill on 
behalf of its more than 200 member organizations representing more than 
10 million women nationwide.
  National Women's Health Week begins annually on Mother's Day. This 
year marks the 10th annual National Women's Health Week that we have 
experienced and honored.
  National Women's Health Week is a week celebrated across America. 
During this week, families, communities, businesses, government, health 
organizations, and other groups work together to educate women about 
steps they could take to improve their physical and mental health to 
prevent disease and to enable them to live longer and stronger.
  This week is also used as an opportunity to educate the entire 
population of our country about important health issues that women 
face.
  This resolution recognizes the importance of a number of things, 
including preventing diseases that commonly affect women, federally 
funded programs that provide research and collect data on common 
diseases that women are subject to, and also calls on women to observe 
National Women's Check-up Day by receiving preventive screenings.
  It is vitally important that women have knowledge about the health 
risks that confront them and that they know they can greatly reduce 
those risks through preventive measures such as a healthy lifestyle and 
regular medical screenings.
  Healthy habits should begin at a young age; therefore, it is 
imperative that we take the time to educate young girls on the benefits 
of exercise and proper eating. If these habits start at a young age, it 
is more likely that they will continue throughout their lives.
  It is important and essential that we do everything we can to prevent 
disease. In this spirit, I encourage women to get the necessary 
checkups and preventive screenings from their health care providers so 
they can live long, healthy, and productive lives.
  I urge full support and passage of this measure.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, at this time there are no further 
speakers from our side of the aisle, so I will thank Mr. Hinchey for 
his wonderful work on this. I will thank Mrs. Capps for the bipartisan 
efforts that we have put into addressing the issues that affect women 
in leading healthy, productive lives.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I will just make the comment that it is 
exceedingly gratifying to notice the leadership of our colleague from 
New York, Mr. Hinchey, and other men who realize that Women's Health 
Week really affects their lives as well, because women are often the 
leaders within the family setting and the educators and the standard 
bearers often for communities as well. So we are talking about 
awareness of national women's health, which really is also talking 
about health for us all.
  And I'm pleased also to note that our bipartisan caucus for women's 
issues has championed this resolution and is very grateful to the 
authors for introducing it and for this opportunity for us to recognize 
the 10th annual National Women's Health Week.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con Res. 120, 
a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's Health 
Week. Throughout my career as a member of Congress, I have consistently 
fought to ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable, 
and comprehensive health care. As a cosponsor of the Breast Cancer 
Patient Protection Act, a supporter of additional research on diseases 
that target women, and a longstanding advocate of securing health care 
for all women, I am pleased to support this resolution.
  Women's health issues are of the utmost importance to me, and this 
resolution helps to promote awareness for healthy lifestyles and 
disease prevention for women. It is important to ensure that women both 
in Michigan's 15th District and across the United States understand the 
steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of disease, are aware of the 
disease disparities that exist among women from different backgrounds, 
and are exposed to healthy habits and key health issues from an early 
age. I understand that encouraging preventative care for women is 
important for reducing the cost of health care. As a longtime supporter 
of improvements to our Nation's health care system and increased 
research on women's health issues, I am pleased to support National 
Women's Health Week and to cosponsor H. Con. Res. 120.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H. 
Con. Res. 120 ``Supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's 
Health.'' I would also like to extend my gratitude to my distinguished 
colleague from New York, Representative Maurice D. Hinchey, for 
introducing this important legislation. I thank my legislative 
director, Arthur D. Sidney.
  National Women's Health Week is a weeklong health observance 
coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office 
on Women's Health (OWH). National Women's Health Week empowers women to 
make their health a top priority. With the theme ``It's Your Time,'' 
the nationwide initiative encourages women to take simple steps for a 
longer, healthier, and happier life. During National Women's Health 
Week, communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and 
other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take 
to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of 
certain diseases. Important steps include: getting at least 2\1/2\ 
hours of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous 
physical activity, or a combination of both each week; eating a 
nutritious diet; visiting a health care professional for regular 
checkups and preventive screenings; avoiding risky behaviors, like 
smoking and not wearing a seatbelt; and paying attention to mental 
health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
  Research has established the existence of persistent racial and 
socioeconomic disparities in women's health in the United States. We 
know that coronary disease is the leading cause of death for both men 
and women. But, nearly twice as many women in the U.S. die of heart 
disease and stroke every year as die from all types of cancer. Yet, 
multiple studies have shown that women are less likely than men to be 
referred for invasive cardiac procedures.
  While the life expectancy of women in the United States has risen, as 
a group, African American women have a shorter life expectancy and 
experience earlier onset of such chronic conditions as diabetes and 
hypertension. If we look at the death rates for diseases of the heart, 
African American women are clearly at risk with 147 deaths per 100,000. 
When we look at cervical cancer, we see that the incidence rate of 
invasive cervical cancer is higher among Asian-American women. Yet, we 
cannot explain the causes of these higher rates.
  Disparities are perhaps most alarming when we look at HIV/AIDS. 
Twenty-two percent of Americans currently living with HIV are women, 
and 77 percent of those are African American or Hispanic. Many people 
are shocked to know that AIDS is the second leading cause of death 
among African American women age 25 to 44.
  There are nearly 40 million women in America who are members of 
racial and ethnic minority groups. These women suffer 
disproportionately from premature death, disease, and disabilities. 
Many also face tremendous barriers to optimal health. This is a growing 
challenge in our nation.
  The challenge is even greater when we consider the aging population. 
By the year 2050, nearly 1 in 4 adult women will be 65 years old or 
older, and an astonishing 1 in 17 will be 85 years old or older. We 
must ensure that our Federal agencies are in the forefront, working to 
find solutions to the challenges our nation faces in caring for the 
health of our women.
  It is important to celebrate National Women's Health Week to remind 
women that taking care of themselves is essential to living longer, 
healthier, and happier lives. Women are often the caregivers for their 
spouses, children, and parents and forget to focus on their own health. 
But research shows that when women take care of themselves, the health 
of

[[Page 12756]]

their family improves. During National Women's Health Week it is 
important to educate our wives, mothers, grandmothers, daughters, 
sisters, aunts, and girlfriends about the steps they can take to 
improve their health and prevent disease. After all, when women take 
even the simplest steps to improve their health, the results can be 
significant and everyone can benefit.
  H. Con. Res. 120 is an important way to support the women of this 
nation, and I am proud to stand today in support of this important 
legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation as well.
  Mrs. CAPPS. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 120, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________