Presidential Documents

16033

Federal Register

Vol. 62, No. 64

Thurday, April 3, 1997

Title 3—

The President

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.
16034 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 64 / Thursday, April 3, 1997 / Presidential Documents

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

[FR Doc. 97–8735

Filed 4–2–97; 8:45 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P

and twenty-first.

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