    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [December 16, 1993]
    [Page 2185]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Preventive Health Amendments of 1993
    December 16, 1993

        Since the beginning of my Administration, we have worked with the
    Congress on ways to strengthen the Nation's health care system. This
    partnership for the personal security of America's families moved
    forward when I signed into law H.R. 2202, the Preventive Health
    Amendments of 1993.
        The primary purpose of this new law is to extend the early detection
    and disease prevention activities of the Centers for Disease Control and
    Prevention (CDC), especially by strengthening our efforts for the early
    detection of breast cancer. While it contains a number of excellent
    provisions, I am especially pleased to advance the Nation's agenda as it
    relates to women's health concerns.
        Among the provisions of H.R. 2202 are new funds authorized for
    appropriations in the form of grants by the CDC to States for the
    detection and treatment of women's reproductive and breast cancers. This
    program addresses an important national need.
        Over 2.5 million women in the United States have breast cancer, and
    about 182,000 additional cancers are expected to have been detected this
    year. Once every 12 minutes, a woman dies from breast cancer in the
    United States, often leaving behind a grieving husband, desolate
    children, and anguished friends. While mammography is by no means a
    cure, in many instances, it does detect cancer and leads to reductions
    in the death rates from the illness among women when appropriate follow-
    up treatment occurs. Though we don't know what causes breast cancer, how
    to prevent it or cure it, we do know that broader access to mammograms
    will make an important medical, personal, and economic difference due to
    increased early detection.
        The legislation expands our efforts not only in breast and cervical
    cancer prevention but also in areas such as injury control, violence
    prevention, tuberculosis prevention and research, and trauma care. It is
    an excellent example of how a bipartisan approach to improving the
    health care available to Americans can provide needed benefits to so
    many people.
        Much more can and must be done. Health care reform is going to
    change fundamentally and for the better the manner in which we deal with
    women's health, especially breast cancer. We know we can reduce deaths
    from breast cancer by insuring that all women see their health care
    provider on a regular basis and have access to the tests they need,
    including mammography when appropriate. Under my Health Security Act, no
    woman who needs a mammogram will ever be denied one because she cannot
    pay for it.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    December 16, 1993.

    Note: H.R. 2202, approved December 14, was assigned Public Law No. 103-
    183. This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    December 17.