Senate Passes Feingold-Snow Measure Recognizing Women's Health Week

Press Release

SENATE PASSES FEINGOLD-SNOWE MEASURE RECOGNIZING WOMEN'S HEALTH WEEK
Week of May 11, 2008 Designated to Raise Awareness of Women Health Issues

The U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan resolution reintroduced by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) recognizing May 11-17, 2008 as National Women's Health Week (NWHW). Feingold and Snowe's resolution supports the goal of NWHW by calling on Americans to take the week as an opportunity to learn about health issues women face and recognizes the importance of federally funded programs that provide research on common diseases in women. For the past three years Feingold and Snowe have led efforts to pass the congressional resolution supporting NWHW. A concurrent resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Lois Capps (D-CA), and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) last month.

"I am pleased the Senate has recognized how important it is to raise awareness about the manageable steps women can take to improve their health," Feingold said. "National Women's Health Week plays an important role in promoting positive changes women can make to live longer, healthier lives."

"There are a countless number of new tests, screenings and preventive measures women can utilize that can help stem the tide of disease that has already claimed too many lives," said Senator Snowe. "National Women's Health Week is about raising awareness to the innovative measures that are available to all women and to encourage them to take advantage of the medical breakthroughs that are being discovered every year so all women can have a better and longer quality of life."

"I'm very grateful for Senator Feingold's and Senator Snowe's long-standing commitment to women's health issues and for once again securing Senate approval of our resolution that recognizes the importance of National Women's Health Week," Congressman Maurice Hinchey said. "This measure, which I expect the House to approve next week, will help raise awareness for a weeklong initiative focused on educating women about the important lifesaving screenings and steps they can take to lead healthier lives," said Hinchey.

NWHW begins on Mother's Day annually and celebrates the efforts of national and community organizations working with partners and volunteers to improve awareness of key women's health issues. NWHW encourages women of all backgrounds to reduce their risk of common diseases by engaging in physical activity, eating a nutritious diet, and visiting a healthcare provider to receive regular check-ups and preventative screenings. The National Council of Women's Organization fully endorses this resolution on behalf of its 230 member organizations representing 11 million women.

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