[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9411 of March 31, 2016

National Cancer Control Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Undaunted by challenge and unceasing in pursuit of progress, our Nation
has pushed the boundaries of possibility throughout our history. Today,
while cancer remains among the leading causes of death around the world
and the second leading cause of death here at home, cancer research is
on the cusp of major breakthroughs, offering incredible promise to those
suffering from this disease. This month, we remember the loved ones we
have lost, pledge support for the families we can still save, and
reaffirm our commitment to curing cancer once and for all.
Cancer can affect people of all ages, races, and backgrounds, but
certain risk factors exist that can often be mitigated. Limiting alcohol
consumption, controlling sun exposure, exercising, getting recommended
cancer screenings, and maintaining a healthy diet are all ways to reduce
your risk of getting cancer. Additionally, smoking remains one of the
top causes of cancer, responsible for 1 in 3 cancer deaths in the United
States. By promoting resources to help people quit smoking and limiting
exposure to secondhand smoke, we can reduce individuals' cancer risks.
Help for quitting smoking can be found at www.SmokeFree.gov or by
calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. I urge all Americans to visit www.Cancer.gov or
www.CDC.gov/Cancer to learn more.
My Administration is committed to reaching a future free from cancer in
all its forms. Earlier this year, I created the White House Cancer
Moonshot Task Force. Chaired by Vice President Joe Biden, this effort
aims to accelerate our progress toward prevention, treatment, and cures
by putting ourselves on a path to achieving at least a decade's worth of
advances in 5 years. Together with patients, philanthropies, private
industry, and the medical and scientific communities, the United States
can be the country that finally finds a cure for this disease, and we
have already proposed a $1 billion initiative to jumpstart this critical
work. The Affordable Care Act continues to help people with cancer and
at risk for cancer by prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to
anyone based on a preexisting condition and requiring insurers to cover
recommended preventive benefits without cost-sharing. And the Precision
Medicine Initiative that I launched last year continues to work toward a
new era of medicine that offers targeted treatment at the right time to
individual patients by accounting for their unique genes, health
histories, and other personal factors.
Our Nation has made extraordinary strides in the fight against cancer,
but much work remains to be done. With more than one and a half

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million new cases of cancer expected in the United States this year, we
owe it to everyone currently living with it and to anyone at risk to
support all those working to defeat it. During National Cancer Control
Month, let us remember those who lost their battle with cancer, and let
us renew our efforts to save lives and spare heartbreak by reaching a
future without this devastating disease.

The Congress of the United States, by joint resolution approved March
28, 1938 (52 Stat. 148; 36 U.S.C. 103), as amended, has requested the
President to issue an annual proclamation declaring April as ``Cancer
Control Month.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim April 2016 as National Cancer Control Month.
I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit
organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that
will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent and 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 sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.

BARACK OBAMA