Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines
Floor Speech
Mr. NADLER of New York. I thank the genltlelady for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution offered by our colleague, Representative Wasserman Schultz.
With this resolution, which should have the full support of every Member of the House, we will be on record with our commitment not to allow women over 40 to go without the life-saving tests currently available to root out breast cancer at early stages. This resolution states our support for continued research into developing better tests so that no woman will face a death sentence due to a diagnosis of breast cancer.
I thank my colleague, Representative Wasserman Schultz, for bringing this resolution to the floor; but, unfortunately, this resolution won't cure the potential problem created by, or actually highlighted by, or dampen the frustration sparked by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's decision a few weeks ago.
Even before the recommendations of the task force, and having nothing to do with the recommendations of the task force, many insurance companies today deny coverage for screening mammograms to women over 40. To deal with this problem, we should pass a bill that I introduced, H.R. 955, the Mammogram and MRI Availability Act, which would give assurance to women over 40 which would legally mandate that any insurance policy that covers diagnostic mammograms must also cover screening mammograms for all women over 40. Women over 40 would have legal assurances that no insurance company would be allowed to deny her coverage for a mammogram.
I hope this resolution will serve as a first step toward attaining adoption of mandatory legislation to guarantee annual mammography coverage to all women over 40 and MRIs to women who need it because they have a particular genetic or other family history indicating a specific susceptibility to breast cancer.
I ask my colleagues to show their commitment to women's health by voting ``yes'' on this resolution and by joining me as a cosponsor of H.R. 995.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 3 minutes to Dr. Gingrey
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