[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
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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
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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.