Thomas Daschle: “I am grateful that this bill provides an increase in funding for the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention's…”

“I am grateful that this bill provides an increase in funding for the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. The program was implemented in accordance with the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990 to reduce morbidity and mortality from two cancers that will claim the lives of an estimated 500,000 women during the 1990's. It is structured as a State and Federal partnership to provide screening and diagnostic help and assure followup care for low-income uninsured women. Under the 1990 act, Federal funding is restricted to screening and diagnostic services. To ensure that women diagnosed with cancer receive treatment, States are expected to arrange access to treatment through whatever means they have at their disposal. The CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is now active in all 50 States, and as of January 1997, the program has screened more than 1.5 million American women. Unfortunately, too many women are not being provided the screening, diagnostic help, and treatment they need to save their lives.”