[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 15, 1994)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 30665-30666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14721]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 15, 1994]
Presidential Documents
Proclamation 6700 of June 10, 1994
National Men's Health Week, 1994
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As this great country moves forward in its commitment
to address the many concerns related to the delivery of
health care, we set aside this week to give special
attention to those issues that affect the health of
American men. We have made enormous progress in medical
technology and research, yet the goal of extending
human life expectancy will not be fully realized until
information on prevention, detection, and treatment of
disease reaches all men and is used by all men.
Tobacco use is the single most important preventable
cause of death in the United States, and currently 24
million American men smoke. It is a major risk factor
for diseases of the heart and lungs and doubles the
risk of stroke among men. The risk of dying from lung
cancer is 22 times higher for men who smoke. Those who
continue to smoke place themselves and those around
them at great peril. It is imperative for this country
to focus its efforts on eliminating the use of tobacco
products through education and treatment programs.
In the past decade, public awareness has also been
increased regarding the dangers of alcohol consumption
and its impact on the health of American men. Alcohol
abuse is, more frequently than not, a related factor in
motor vehicle fatalities, homicides, and suicides. It
is becoming a special problem for the young men in this
country. Let us not falter in our progress--the time
has come for us to demand better access to treatment
programs, stronger and better enforced laws related to
drunk driving, policies to reduce minors' access to
alcohol, and greater involvement of primary care
providers in dealing with this problem.
Among older men, prostate cancer is a serious enemy. It
is estimated that in 1994, in America alone, prostate
cancer will affect 200,000 men, and 38,000 will die.
Prostate cancer strikes men almost as often as breast
cancer strikes women, yet reluctance to discuss this
disease has left its research largely under funded.
However, what we do know gives us hope. In addition to
physical detection, doctors can now use a blood test to
determine the presence of this cancer. Furthermore,
there are several available forms of effective
treatment. We must ensure that all men over the age of
50 have access to screening for and treatment of this
disease, while we simultaneously push for affordable
medical care for all Americans.
Even in the face of better, more accessible detection
and prevention programs, we need men to recognize and
adopt healthier lifestyles. No health care policy can
replace the benefits that American men would reap from
this change.
The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 179, has
designated the week of June 12 through June 19, 1994,
as ``National Men's Health Week'' and has authorized
and requested the President to issue a proclamation in
observance of this week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week
of June 12, 1994, as National Men's Health Week. 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. I also 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 men's health.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and ninety-four, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and
eighteenth.
(Presidential Sig.)>
[FR Doc. 94-14721
Filed 6-13-94; 3:36 pm]
Billing code 3195-01-P
