Supporting National Women's Health Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment, first of all, to express my appreciation to Chairman Waxman for supporting this resolution and for helping to bring it to the floor today. Also, I would like to thank Mr. Hoyer for his determination in bringing this measure to the floor to honor National Women's Health Week, despite the very crowded schedule that we have.

I would also like to thank Chairman PALLONE and all the fine members of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for their work on women's health issues and for making it possible for this resolution to reach the floor.

Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my good friends Congresswoman LOIS CAPPS and Congresswoman MARY BONO MACK for taking the lead with me on this resolution for the fourth time in a row. And MARSHA, I thank you very much also for your statement today and your participation in getting this legislation passed.

This resolution has the bipartisan sponsorship of 117 Members. The National Council of Women's Organizations fully endorsed this bill on behalf of its more than 200 member organizations representing more than 10 million women nationwide.

National Women's Health Week begins annually on Mother's Day. This year marks the 10th annual National Women's Health Week that we have experienced and honored.

National Women's Health Week is a week celebrated across America. During this week, families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups work together to educate women about steps they could take to improve their physical and mental health to prevent disease and to enable them to live longer and stronger.

This week is also used as an opportunity to educate the entire population of our country about important health issues that women face.

This resolution recognizes the importance of a number of things, including preventing diseases that commonly affect women, federally funded programs that provide research and collect data on common diseases that women are subject to, and also calls on women to observe National Women's Check-up Day by receiving preventive screenings.

It is vitally important that women have knowledge about the health risks that confront them and that they know they can greatly reduce those risks through preventive measures such as a healthy lifestyle and regular medical screenings.

Healthy habits should begin at a young age; therefore, it is imperative that we take the time to educate young girls on the benefits of exercise and proper eating. If these habits start at a young age, it is more likely that they will continue throughout their lives.

It is important and essential that we do everything we can to prevent disease. In this spirit, I encourage women to get the necessary checkups and preventive screenings from their health care providers so they can live long, healthy, and productive lives.

I urge full support and passage of this measure.

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