Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - June 23, 2005)

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Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, I offer my amendment no behalf of the thousands of women fighting a fierce battle against gyneocologic cancers. I would like to first thank Chairman LEWIS and Chairman REGULA for giving me the opportunity to speak on a topic that is not only a legislative priority, but a personnel commitment.

My amendment would simply redirect $5 million within the HHS budget to the Office of Women's Health to coordinate a national education campaign to educate the public on gynecologic cancers.

Every 7 minutes a woman is diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. In 2005, over 82,000 will be diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer and over 27,000 women will die. The most common gynecologic cancers include ovarian, cervical and uterine cancers.

Too many women are dying because they were diagnosed too late. Education and early detection are the keys to saving women's lives and reducing these statistics. If diagnosed in the early stages, the 5 year survivability rates are as high as 95 percent.

Gynecologic cancers, when detected early, can often be prevented from becoming fatal. Since all women are at risk--no matter their ethnic background or socioeconomic status--it is critical that we find a way to inform women about the steps they can take to maintain their health.

Due to the private and intimate nature of these cancers, oftentimes women are uncomfortable discussing issues surrounding gynecologic cancers with friends and family. It is vital that we have a national dialogue to provide accurate and timely information to the public.

By simply educating women about these cancers, we have an opportunity to save lives. The messages are simple: learn the symptoms, have an annual exam and talk to your doctor. Unfortunately, most women do not know these messages, which is why we need to pass today's amendment.

Dollars spent on education are an appropriate use of federal resources. Education empowers individuals to make the best choices regarding their health care.

Last year, I discovered first-hand how important early diagnosis and education can be. My Legislative Director was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Her journey led me to work with Representatives SANDER LEVIN, KAY GRANGER and ROSA DELAURO and introduce H.R. 1245, ``the Gynecologic Education and Awareness Act of 2005,'' which has 193 bipartisan cosponsors.

This bill, also know as ``Johanna's law,'' has allowed me the privilege and honor to meet and work with an amazing group of survivors, patients, doctors, and families who have lost loved ones to these awful cancers.

I would like to personally thank Sheryl Silver, who started this whole effort over 4 years ago. In honor of her sister, Johanna, who died of ovarian cancer, Sheryl focused her energy and resources on writing, lobbying and working this bill. It is a model of how our democracy should work.

In addition, I would like to thank the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) and the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation for their tireless efforts in saving women's lives. They have been invaluable to this Legislative effort. Dr. Beth Karlan, from Cedars Sinai Medical Center, is the President of SGO and the doctor who saved my Legislative Director's life and deserves a special note of heartfelt gratitude.

I appreciate the opportunity in raising this issue today. I look forward to working with Chairman JERRY LEWIS and Chairman RALPH REGULA and appreciate their hard work and their willingness to work with all members on their issues.

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Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Lewis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman REGULA). I planned to offer an amendment, which is at the desk, but after discussing at length the merits of it with the chairman of the full committee and the chairman of the subcommittee, we reached an understanding that the importance of women's health and, particularly, gynecological awareness, is sufficient that we will be able to make every effort to try to find dollars to move gynecological awareness through the ordinary process without an amendment.

I certainly want to thank the chairman for his help on this. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), who also wants to quickly make a couple of comments on the effort to raise gynecological awareness, one of the great and unheard-of killers of American women.

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