Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: “despite education on preventive measures and early detection, the rate of cancer among women has continued to increase…”

“despite education on preventive measures and early detection, the rate of cancer among women has continued to increase at an alarming rate. Every 64 minutes a woman is diagnosed with reproductive tract cancer. And just today, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Our colleague, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick), shared with us how she is among the fortunate who can afford life-saving treatment after her diagnosis. We have encouraged low-income mothers and daughters to have mammogram screenings and early detection measures. But when these medical tests show an unfavorable diagnosis, who is there to ensure that they receive the life-saving treatment they so desperately need? Mr. Speaker, our Nation's low-income women living with breast cancer cannot wait any longer. H.R. 1070 gives the States an optional Medicaid benefit to provide treatment to low-income women screened and diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through the CDC early detection program. Mother's Day is May 14, and the most valuable gift that Congress can give American women is a fighting chance at beating cancer. I hope that my colleagues will work for passage of H.R. 1070 by this Mother's Day.”