[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 64 (Thursday, April 3, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 16033-16034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8735]



[[Page 16031]]

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Part VI





The President





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Proclamation 6980--Cancer Control Month, 1997



Proclamation 6981--National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 1997
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 64 / Thursday, April 3, 1997 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 16033]]

                Proclamation 6980 of April 1, 1997

                
Cancer Control Month, 1997

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                In observing Cancer Control Month, we reaffirm our 
                national commitment to fighting this deadly disease. 
                Since the signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971, 
                we as a Nation have made significant strides in 
                combating many forms of cancer. In November 1996, the 
                National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced that the 
                cancer death rate in the United States fell by nearly 3 
                percent between 1991 and 1995, the first sustained 
                decline since national record-keeping began in the 
                1930s. The declines in lung, colorectal, and prostate 
                cancer deaths in men, and breast and gynecologic cancer 
                deaths in women, reflect the progress we have made in 
                prevention, early detection, and treatment. However, we 
                recognize how much work must still be done to control 
                and eliminate this disease.

                Perhaps one of the most promising achievements of 
                cancer research this past year is in our increased 
                understanding of cancer genetics. We have learned that 
                cancer is a disease of altered genes and altered gene 
                function. Researchers are making great progress in 
                identifying genes whose dysfunction leads to cancer. 
                Our research into the relationship between genetics and 
                cancer also is helping us to better understand the 
                basis for many other diseases and will strengthen our 
                ability to intervene against them. If we are to 
                continue this remarkable progress, we must keep 
                scientific research as a fundamental priority.

                Research has already taught us that smoking directly 
                causes lung cancer and markedly increases a person's 
                risk of developing cancers of the pancreas, esophagus, 
                uterus, cervix, mouth, throat, and bladder. We know 
                that many of the deaths from these cancers are 
                preventable. Over the last several years, positive 
                trends have emerged: Business, industry, and all levels 
                of government have established smoke-free policies, and 
                per-capita cigarette consumption has declined by 37 
                percent over the past two decades.

                Reasons for deep concern remain, however. More than 
                3,000 teenagers become regular smokers each day in the 
                United States. We must do all we can to help our 
                children understand the consequences of smoking, and we 
                must set a good example ourselves by not smoking. Last 
                year, in an important step forward, the Food and Drug 
                Administration (FDA) proposed restrictions on the 
                advertising, marketing, and sales of cigarettes to 
                minors. In February of this year, I was proud to 
                announce that the first part of those rules went into 
                effect.

[[Page 16034]]

                We are also learning more about the relationship 
                between diet and cancer risk, and we are gaining 
                insight into the role of dietary supplements in 
                reducing certain types of cancer. We know that by 
                improving our diet--reducing fat and increasing the 
                amount of fiber--we reduce our risk of cancer. The NCI, 
                in collaboration with the food industry, sponsors the 
                national 5-A-Day Program, which encourages Americans to 
                eat five servings of fruit and vegetables each day.

                We are taking other important steps, as well. Federal 
                agencies are working together to ensure that 
                potentially active drugs move quickly from discovery to 
                clinical use. To reduce the number of cancer deaths and 
                new cases, and to help cancer patients survive longer 
                and live better lives, several Federal agencies are 
                working with State and local health departments to 
                develop and implement national plans for breast and 
                cervical cancer screening and to promote cancer 
                prevention. I was pleased to announce last week that my 
                Administration is launching a major public education 
                campaign to make sure that every woman and every health 
                care professional in America is aware of the NCI's new 
                recommendations that women between the ages of 40 and 
                49 should get a mammography examination for breast 
                cancer every one or two years. The Medicare budget that 
                I just submitted to the Congress will cover the expense 
                of these annual exams, and we are urging State Medicaid 
                directors to cover annual mammograms as well, with the 
                assurance that the Federal Government will pay its 
                matching share if they do so.

                As we commemorate this special month, I ask health care 
                professionals, private industry, community groups, 
                insurance companies, and all other interested 
                organizations and individual citizens to unite to 
                publicly reaffirm our Nation's continuing commitment to 
                controlling cancer. In 1938, the Congress of the United 
                States passed a joint resolution requesting the 
                President to issue an annual proclamation declaring 
                April as ``Cancer Control Month.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim April 
                1997, as Cancer Control Month. I invite the Governors 
                of the 50 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
                the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and the 
                appropriate officials of all other areas under the 
                American flag to issue similar proclamations.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                first day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen 
                hundred and ninety-seven, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and 
                twenty-first.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 97-8735
Filed 4-2-97; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P