[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 24 (Monday, June 20, 1994)]
[Pages 1270-1271]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 6700--National Men's Health Week, 1994

June 10, 1994

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    As this great country moves forward in its commitment to address the 
many concerns related to the delivery of health care, we set aside this 
week to give special attention to those issues that affect the health of 
American men. We have made enormous progress in medical technology and 
research, yet the goal of extending human life expectancy will not be 
fully realized until information on prevention, detection, and treatment 
of disease reaches all men and is used by all men.
    Tobacco use is the single most important preventable cause of death 
in the United States, and currently 24 million American men smoke. It is 
a major risk factor for diseases of the heart and lungs and doubles the 
risk of stroke among men. The risk of dying from lung cancer is 22 times 
higher for men who smoke. Those who continue to smoke place themselves 
and those around them at great peril. It is imperative for this country 
to focus its efforts on eliminating the use of tobacco products through 
education and treatment programs.
    In the past decade, public awareness has also been increased 
regarding the dangers of alcohol consumption and its impact on the 
health of American men. Alcohol abuse is, more frequently than not, a 
related factor in motor vehicle fatalities, homicides, and suicides. It 
is becoming a special problem for the young men in this country. Let us 
not falter in our progress--the time has come

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for us to demand better access to treatment programs, stronger and 
better enforced laws related to drunk driving, policies to reduce 
minors' access to alcohol, and greater involvement of primary care 
providers in dealing with this problem.
    Among older men, prostate cancer is a serious enemy. It is estimated 
that in 1994, in America alone, prostate cancer will affect 200,000 men, 
and 38,000 will die. Prostate cancer strikes men almost as often as 
breast cancer strikes women, yet reluctance to discuss this disease has 
left its research largely under funded. However, what we do know gives 
us hope. In addition to physical detection, doctors can now use a blood 
test to determine the presence of this cancer. Furthermore, there are 
several available forms of effective treatment. We must ensure that all 
men over the age of 50 have access to screening for and treatment of 
this disease, while we simultaneously push for affordable medical care 
for all Americans.
    Even in the face of better, more accessible detection and prevention 
programs, we need men to recognize and adopt healthier lifestyles. No 
health care policy can replace the benefits that American men would reap 
from this change.
    The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 179, has designated the 
week of June 12 through June 19, 1994, as ``National Men's Health Week'' 
and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation 
in observance of this week.
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of June 12, 1994, as 
National Men's Health Week. 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 ask health care professionals, 
private industry, community groups, insurance companies, and all other 
interested organizations and individual citizens to unite to publicly 
reaffirm our Nation's continuing commitment to men's health.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of 
June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-four, and of 
the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
eighteenth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 3:36 p.m., June 13, 
1994]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on June 11, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
June 15.