[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 42 (Monday, October 24, 1994)]
[Pages 2068-2069]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 6746--National Mammography Day, 1994

October 18, 1994

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    The threat of breast cancer touches everyone. All women are at risk 
for breast cancer, including those with no family history of the 
disease. This year alone, 182,000 women are expected to be diagnosed 
with breast cancer; 46,000 will die. The risk of death is reduced 
significantly if the cancer can be found in the earlier, more treatable 
stages. With appropriate breast cancer screening and state-of-the-art 
care, experts expect to see a 30 percent drop in the death rate. 
Together, we must work to make sure that every woman is informed about 
breast cancer and about the importance of regular examinations, 
including high-quality screening mammog-

[[Page 2069]]

raphy. And we must ensure that all women have access to this invaluable 
preventive care.
    Today, mammography is considered the most effective method for 
detecting early stage breast cancer. Many cancers can be seen on a 
mammogram as soon as 2 years before they could be detected by a woman or 
her physician. But only half of all women ages 50 and older have had a 
mammogram in the past 2 years, and as few as 30 percent have mammograms 
routinely. African American women experience a higher death rate from 
breast cancer than white women, and recently we learned that this is 
primarily because they are diagnosed at more advanced stages of the 
disease. Researchers have concluded that if we are to improve the 
survival rate of African American women, we must develop strategies 
aimed at increasing their use of and access to early detection 
techniques such as mammography.
    We can all be encouraged by the progress in improving and monitoring 
mammography. As of October 2, 1994, provisions of the Mammography 
Quality Standards Act of 1992, requiring national, uniform quality and 
safety standards, went into effect. Mammography facilities must now meet 
stringent requirements and be certified to ensure they are providing 
high-quality service. In addition, scientists currently are working to 
apply American know-how to improve mammography and to develop high-
technology imaging methods to detect breast tumors. Digital mammography, 
for example, may enhance the quality of mammographic images and even 
magnify the view of specific areas of the breast. Scientists also are 
exploring such technologies as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 
ultrasound imaging for this purpose.
    In recognition of the crucial role mammography plays in the battle 
against breast cancer, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 220, has 
designated October 19, 1994, as ``National Mammography Day'' and has 
authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in 
observance of this day.
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby proclaim October 19, 1994, as National 
Mammography Day. 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 ask health care professionals, private 
industry, advocacy groups, community associations, insurance companies, 
and all other interested organizations and individual citizens, for the 
sake of American women and for their loved ones, to unite in publicly 
reaffirming our Nation's continuing commitment to the provision of 
breast cancer screening.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day 
of October, 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 nineteenth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 12:14 p.m., October 21, 
1994]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 19, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
October 24.