    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [April 21, 2004]
    [Pages 646-648]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Reception for the National Race for the Cure
    April 21, 2004

        Thank you. Welcome. Thanks for coming. Thank you, darling.
    [Laughter] What she forgot to say was ``a Race
    for the Cure ex-runner.'' I'm afraid my knees hurt. [Laughter] But
    thanks for coming to the

    [[Page 647]]

    White House. I appreciate your support in such an important cause.
        I too want to thank Nancy Brinker.
    I picked her to be the Ambassador to Hungary because I know her to be an
    accomplished, smart, capable woman. And she did a fabulous job as the
    Ambassador, and I'm real proud to call her friend. She's a social
    entrepreneur. She uses her skills to advance humanity in a positive way,
    and she did so in the name of her sister, Susan Komen. And
    Stephanie, I'm glad you're here--Susan's
    daughter. Thanks for coming. Proud you're here. I bet you're proud of
    your old auntie. [Laughter] That's good.
        I appreciate Susan Braun being here. Susan,
    you're doing a fine job. Nancy was up for dinner the other night, and so
    I was asking her about how everything was going in the foundation. I
    said, ``Have you found anybody who can run this thing?'' And she said,
    ``Yes, Susan Braun. She's doing a heck of a job.'' So if you can meet
    her standards, you must be doing a heck of a job. [Laughter] Thanks for
    your hard work.
        LaSalle, it's good to see you, sir. Dr. LaSalle Leffall is the chairman of the board. Thank you for
    taking time to support this meaningful cause. I want to thank the other
    board members and supporters who are here as well.
        Some of corporate America is represented here, supporting this fine
    foundation. Thanks for being a good corporate citizen for our country.
    Thanks for doing your duty and supporting such a fine cause.
        My buddy Ann Veneman, who is the
    Secretary of Agriculture, is with us. She's a survivor. I'm really proud
    of Ann. She's doing an excellent job as a member of my Cabinet. Glad
    you're doing well. Thanks for coming.
        I'm really glad Sue Ann Thompson is
    here. It's great to see you, Sue Ann. She's married to Tommy, who is not here--better half of the family showed
    up. [Laughter] Thanks for coming, Sue Ann. Really good to see you.
        I appreciate Congressman Sue Myrick.
    I'm glad you're here. She's one of the co-chair of the House Cancer
    Caucus, along with Steve Israel. Thank you for coming, Steve. I'm proud
    you both are here. Sue brought her grandson Jake, Jake Forest. I just thought I'd say his name so he would get on C-
    SPAN. [Laughter]
        It's good to see two other Members of the Congress who have taken
    time to come out, offer their support, Joe Barton from Texas and Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee. Thank you both for being here. I'm
    proud you came too.
        I want to honor the cancer survivors who are here. We appreciate
    your courage and your steadfast strength and your willingness to share
    your stories and your experiences with others.
        The Susan G. Komen Foundation Annual Race for the Cure is now a
    national tradition. And it didn't take long to get there. As Laura mentioned, the race started--she said her home State--
    it also happens to be mine--[laughter]--in Dallas, Texas. And it
    didn't--from '83 to now, that's a couple of decades and a year, and yet
    when you hear the Race for the Cure, everybody knows what you're talking
    about. It's kind of become the brand name for saving lives. The Komen
    Foundation has invested nearly $500 million in the fight against breast
    cancer. That's really good.
        Laura recognized somebody by name. I am too.
    Rana Kahl is with us. She participated in her
    first race 8 years ago. She ran 4 years before being diagnosed on her
    33d birthday with breast cancer. And her first time at the race as a
    survivor was the day after her first chemo treatment. She's been the
    chairwoman of the National Race for the Cure's Survivor Committee for 3
    years. She's lending her heart and her expertise.
        Rana celebrated her fourth cancer-free
    anniversary last month, and she and her husband, Kevin, welcomed their first child last year. It's a beautiful
    story. She said, ``Because of the work we do today, other

    [[Page 648]]

    lives will be saved,'' which is the spirit of the Komen Foundation.
    ``Because of the work we do today, other lives will be saved.''
        Approximately one in seven women in the United States will develop
    breast cancer over her lifetime. That means more than 200,000 women will
    be diagnosed this year. This Government is committed to helping find a
    cure for breast cancer, and it must be. The Department of Health and
    Human Services is spending $900 million on breast cancer research and
    preventative activities. I want to thank the Members of Congress for
    your strong support.
        My budget has proposed an increase for next year as well. The budget
    includes $220 million for an early detection program, promotes
    mammography use, and helps low-income women afford screenings for breast
    cancer and cervical cancer. It also includes 768 million to aid breast
    cancer researchers at the National Institutes of Health. NIH is now
    conducting the largest trial ever of new early detection technologies.
    This effort will help doctors target breast cancer at its most treatable
    stage. Early detection is essential. We're going to continue to work
    with the Congress to make sure that the--there is increased access to
    screening services.
        This country is making progress on women's health issues, and I
    appreciate the leadership of Tommy--Tommy Thompson at the Health and Human Services. Recently, the Komen
    Foundation honored Tommy--it says here, Secretary Thompson--[laughter]--
    Secretary Tommy Thompson--[laughter]--with the Women's Health Advocate
    Award for his work in the area of breast cancer. I know you're proud of
    him, and so am I.
        Secretary Thompson, I will continue to
    stand by you in your cause. We'll not rest. We'll work to make sure that
    we do everything we can to help save lives.
        The National Race for the Cure is an inspiring example. It's a good
    example for a lot of others to watch. It's an example of courage and
    hope and faith, and I want to thank you for your involvement.
        Have a great race this June. I wish I could join you. [Laughter] God
    bless.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 4:38 p.m. in the East Room at
    the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Nancy Goodman Brinker,
    founding chair, Susan Braun, president and chief executive officer, and
    LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., chairman of the board, Susan G. Komen Breast
    Cancer Foundation; and Sue Ann Thompson, wife of Secretary of Health and
    Human Services Tommy Thompson. The transcript released by the Office of
    the Press Secretary also included the remarks of the First Lady, who
    introduced the President.