[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 64 (Thursday, April 3, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 16033-16034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8735]
[[Page 16031]]
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Part VI
The President
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Proclamation 6980--Cancer Control Month, 1997
Proclamation 6981--National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 1997
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 64 / Thursday, April 3, 1997 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 16033]]
Proclamation 6980 of April 1, 1997
Cancer Control Month, 1997
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In observing Cancer Control Month, we reaffirm our
national commitment to fighting this deadly disease.
Since the signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971,
we as a Nation have made significant strides in
combating many forms of cancer. In November 1996, the
National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced that the
cancer death rate in the United States fell by nearly 3
percent between 1991 and 1995, the first sustained
decline since national record-keeping began in the
1930s. The declines in lung, colorectal, and prostate
cancer deaths in men, and breast and gynecologic cancer
deaths in women, reflect the progress we have made in
prevention, early detection, and treatment. However, we
recognize how much work must still be done to control
and eliminate this disease.
Perhaps one of the most promising achievements of
cancer research this past year is in our increased
understanding of cancer genetics. We have learned that
cancer is a disease of altered genes and altered gene
function. Researchers are making great progress in
identifying genes whose dysfunction leads to cancer.
Our research into the relationship between genetics and
cancer also is helping us to better understand the
basis for many other diseases and will strengthen our
ability to intervene against them. If we are to
continue this remarkable progress, we must keep
scientific research as a fundamental priority.
Research has already taught us that smoking directly
causes lung cancer and markedly increases a person's
risk of developing cancers of the pancreas, esophagus,
uterus, cervix, mouth, throat, and bladder. We know
that many of the deaths from these cancers are
preventable. Over the last several years, positive
trends have emerged: Business, industry, and all levels
of government have established smoke-free policies, and
per-capita cigarette consumption has declined by 37
percent over the past two decades.
Reasons for deep concern remain, however. More than
3,000 teenagers become regular smokers each day in the
United States. We must do all we can to help our
children understand the consequences of smoking, and we
must set a good example ourselves by not smoking. Last
year, in an important step forward, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) proposed restrictions on the
advertising, marketing, and sales of cigarettes to
minors. In February of this year, I was proud to
announce that the first part of those rules went into
effect.
[[Page 16034]]
We are also learning more about the relationship
between diet and cancer risk, and we are gaining
insight into the role of dietary supplements in
reducing certain types of cancer. We know that by
improving our diet--reducing fat and increasing the
amount of fiber--we reduce our risk of cancer. The NCI,
in collaboration with the food industry, sponsors the
national 5-A-Day Program, which encourages Americans to
eat five servings of fruit and vegetables each day.
We are taking other important steps, as well. Federal
agencies are working together to ensure that
potentially active drugs move quickly from discovery to
clinical use. To reduce the number of cancer deaths and
new cases, and to help cancer patients survive longer
and live better lives, several Federal agencies are
working with State and local health departments to
develop and implement national plans for breast and
cervical cancer screening and to promote cancer
prevention. I was pleased to announce last week that my
Administration is launching a major public education
campaign to make sure that every woman and every health
care professional in America is aware of the NCI's new
recommendations that women between the ages of 40 and
49 should get a mammography examination for breast
cancer every one or two years. The Medicare budget that
I just submitted to the Congress will cover the expense
of these annual exams, and we are urging State Medicaid
directors to cover annual mammograms as well, with the
assurance that the Federal Government will pay its
matching share if they do so.
As we commemorate this special month, I ask health care
professionals, private industry, community groups,
insurance companies, and all other interested
organizations and individual citizens to unite to
publicly reaffirm our Nation's continuing commitment to
controlling cancer. In 1938, the Congress of the United
States passed a joint resolution requesting the
President to issue an annual proclamation declaring
April as ``Cancer Control Month.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim April
1997, as Cancer Control Month. I invite the Governors
of the 50 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and the
appropriate officials of all other areas under the
American flag to issue similar proclamations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and ninety-seven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-first.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 97-8735
Filed 4-2-97; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P
