Don Nickles: “I want to speak today on the Women's Health Research and Prevention Amendments of 1998 introduced by my colleagues…”

“I want to speak today on the Women's Health Research and Prevention Amendments of 1998 introduced by my colleagues Senator Frist and Majority Leader Lott. This bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend certain programs with respect to women's health research and prevention activities at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Education and Research are the key to providing the best health care for women and for that matter, all Americans. The Women's Health Research and Prevention Amendments promote precisely that. Just two examples are the extension of NIH research programs for basic and clinical research and education efforts with respect to cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian and related cancer; and the extension of the CDC National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. These are the kinds of programs that will improve women's health. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of the Women's Health bill because I believe that research is the best way for Congress to respond to the concern over women's health issues and health issues generally. I make this point, Mr. President, because I have been disappointed that Congress has recently put on lab coats and begun practicing medicine. We have gotten into the dangerous habit of legislating clinical procedures which are not based in science or research but rather driven by social opinion and special interests.”