[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 5, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 17981-17982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8569]



[[Page 17979]]

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Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 7284--Cancer Control Month, 2000



Proclamation 7285--National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2000



Proclamation 7286--Census Day, 2000
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 66 / Wednesday, April 5, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 17981]]

                Proclamation 7284 of March 31, 2000

                
Cancer Control Month, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Since the discovery of the DNA double helix in 1953, we 
                have learned much about the relationship between 
                genetics and cancer, and researchers have begun to 
                isolate and study genes whose alteration and 
                dysfunction may cause the disease. In the last decade, 
                increased understanding of cancer and growing public 
                awareness of its symptoms and risks have helped us to 
                reverse the upward trend in cancer rates in our Nation. 
                Cancer cases and death rates have declined slightly but 
                steadily in the United States; the 5-year survival rate 
                has improved for all cancers; and 8.4 million Americans 
                are now cancer survivors.

                Despite these encouraging trends, this is no time for 
                complacency. Last year alone, more than 1 million 
                people were diagnosed with cancer, and more than 
                560,000 died from it. And cancer rates are still 
                disproportionately high among certain racial, ethnic, 
                and socioeconomic groups. That is why my Administration 
                remains committed to fighting this deadly disease in 
                every sector of our population. Since 1998, we have 
                boosted investment in biomedical research at the 
                National Institutes of Health by an unprecedented $4.1 
                billion, including a dramatic increase in funding for 
                the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the primary 
                Federal cancer research agency.

                Early detection and preventative treatment remain the 
                best weapons we have in the battle against this 
                disease, and several promising initiatives at the NCI 
                will improve our effectiveness in both areas. The NCI 
                recently issued a ``Director's Challenge'' to spur 
                research nationwide into defining key genetic changes 
                that mark tumors as malignant or precancerous. This 
                information will improve the way tumors are classified 
                and lay the ground work for more precise molecular 
                diagnosis. The NCI is also developing and testing 
                molecular markers specific to certain cancers, as well 
                as working on new technologies to improve detection. 
                This research will help doctors to intervene early, 
                with minimally invasive procedures, to prevent the 
                disease from becoming full-blown.

                Another powerful weapon in our crusade is information. 
                Better understanding of risk factors can help people 
                make smarter choices--like quitting smoking or 
                undergoing needed cancer screening. The Cancer 
                Information Service (CIS), a free education service 
                provided by the NCI, acts as the public's link to clear 
                and understandable cancer information. I encourage 
                Americans seeking information on the latest cancer 
                research and treatments to call CIS at 1-800-4-CANCER 
                or to access the NCI directly on the Internet at http://www.cancer.gov.

                Finally, as we intensify our efforts to fight cancer, 
                we must ensure that no American is left behind. The NCI 
                is working to implement cancer control and prevention 
                programs in minority and underserved communities, as 
                well as to increase minority participation in clinical 
                trials and research. As a result of these efforts, 
                nearly 20 percent of the more than 20,000 patients now 
                entering clinical treatment trials are from an ethnic 
                minority group.

[[Page 17982]]

                Investment in science and technology produced 
                tremendous progress in health care during the last 
                century. In this new century, we must reaffirm our 
                dedication to the research, information sharing, and 
                access to care that will help us ultimately win the 
                fight against cancer.

                In 1938, the Congress of the United States passed a 
                joint resolution (52 Stat. 148; 36 U.S.C. 103) 
                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 2000 
                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. I also call upon health 
                care professionals, private industry, community groups, 
                insurance and managed care companies, and all other 
                interested organizations and individuals to unite in 
                support of our Nation's determined efforts to control 
                cancer.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand, and of the Independence of the United States 
                of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-8569
Filed 4-4-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P