[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 13 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[Pages 685-687]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7284--Cancer Control Month, 2000

March 31, 2000

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Since the discovery of the DNA double helix in 1953, we have learned 
much about the relationship between genetics and cancer, and researchers 
have begun to isolate and study genes whose alteration and dysfunction 
may cause the disease. In the last decade, increased understanding of 
cancer and growing public awareness of its symptoms and risks have 
helped us to reverse the

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upward trend in cancer rates in our Nation. Cancer cases and death rates 
have declined slightly but steadily in the United States; the 5-year 
survival rate has improved for all cancers; and 8.4 million Americans 
are now cancer survivors.
    Despite these encouraging trends, this is no time for complacency. 
Last year alone, more than 1 million people were diagnosed with cancer, 
and more than 560,000 died from it. And cancer rate are still 
disproportionately high among certain racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic 
groups. That is why my Administration remains committed to fighting this 
deadly disease in every sector of our population. Since 1998, we have 
boosted investment in biomedical research at the National Institutes of 
Health by an unprecedented $4.1 billion, including a dramatic increase 
in funding for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the primary Federal 
cancer research agency.
    Early detection and preventative treatment remain the best weapons 
we have in the battle against this disease, and several promising 
initiatives at the NCI will improve our effectiveness in both areas. The 
NCI recently issued a ``Director's Challenge'' to spur research 
nationwide into defining key genetic changes that mark tumors as 
malignant or precancerous. This information will improve the way tumors 
are classified and lay the groundwork for more precise molecular 
diagnosis. The NCI is also developing and testing molecular markers 
specific to certain cancers, as well as working on new technologies to 
improve detection. This research will help doctors to intervene early, 
with minimally invasive procedures, to prevent the disease from becoming 
full-blown.
    Another powerful weapon in our crusade is information. Better 
understanding of risk factors can help people make smarter choices--like 
quitting smoking or undergoing needed cancer screening. The Cancer 
Information Service (CIS), a free education service provided by the NCI, 
acts as the public's link to clear and understandable cancer 
information. I encourage Americans seeking information on the latest 
cancer research and treatments to call CIS at 1-800-4-CANCER or to 
access the NCI directly on the Internet at http://www.cancer.gov.
    Finally, as we intensify our efforts to fight cancer, we must ensure 
that no American is left behind. The NCI is working to implement cancer 
control and prevention programs in minority and underserved communities, 
as well as to increase minority participation in clinical trials and 
research. As a result of these efforts, nearly 20 percent of the more 
than 20,000 patients now entering clinical treatment trials are from an 
ethnic minority group.
    Investment in science and technology produced tremendous progress in 
health care during the last century. In this new century, we must 
reaffirm our dedication to the research, information sharing, and access 
to care that will help us ultimately win the fight against cancer.
    In 1938, the Congress of the United States passed a joint resolution 
(52 Stat. 148; 36 U.S.C. 103) requesting the President to issue an 
annual proclamation declaring April as ``Cancer Control Month.''
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby proclaim April 2000 as Cancer Control 
Month. 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 call upon health care professionals, private 
industry, community groups, insurance and managed care companies, and 
all other interested organizations and individuals to unite in support 
of our Nation's determined efforts to 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, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
fourth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., April 4, 
2000]

Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on 
April 5.

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