[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 43 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Page 2607]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and 
Treatment Act of 2000

October 24, 2000

    Today I am extremely pleased to sign the ``Breast and Cervical 
Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000,'' which invests over $990 
million over 10 years in an important new health option for thousands of 
low- income, uninsured women with breast or cervical cancer. I was proud 
to include it in my FY 2001 budget, and I am proud to sign this 
bipartisan legislation into law.
    Women without health insurance are 40 percent more likely to die 
from breast cancer than those who are insured. Not only are they less 
likely to be screened, but the course of treatment they elect is often 
affected by their ability to pay for services. This important 
legislation will expand the limited treatment options now available to 
low-income, uninsured women with breast cancer who are in the unique 
situation of learning about their condition through federally sponsored 
screening programs.
    The new assistance today's action will provide for thousands of 
women with breast or cervical cancer continues my administration's 
longstanding commitment to breast and cervical cancer research, 
prevention, and treatment. It builds on a record of administration 
achievements that includes legislation to ensure the quality of 
mammograms and prevent drive-by mastectomies, increasing access to 
cancer clinical trials, and increasing funding for breast and cervical 
cancer research, prevention, and treatment from $283 million to over 
$620 million during my administration.
    As important as today's achievement is, we have many health care 
issues that still must be addressed. I urge the Congress to pass 
additional coverage expansions including a new, affordable health 
insurance option for parents and new health insurance options for 
Americans facing unique barriers to coverage, such as those aged 55 to 
65, workers in small businesses, and legal immigrants. I also urge the 
Congress to pass legislation streamlining the enrollment of uninsured 
children in health insurance programs. Taking these long overdue steps 
will bring us closer to our larger goal--ensuring that every American 
has access to high quality, affordable health insurance.

Note: H.R. 4386, approved October 24, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
354.