Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel issued the following statement in support of H. Res 971, co-sponsored by Rep. Engel, which states that the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) breast cancer screening recommendations would not prohibit an insurer from providing mammography services beyond the parameters recommended by USPSTF. It also states that the recommendations should not be used by insurers to deny women coverage for routine screenings. In addition, the resolution urges the National Cancer Institute to continue to invest and provide leadership regarding research to develop more effective screening tools and strategies for improving detection of breast cancer.

The resolution passed the House by a unanimous vote.

“These recommendations, while well-intentioned, may have unfortunate results. I am concerned that the new breast cancer guidelines will encourage people to stay home rather than proactively seeking screening that may yield important information. I encourage women to continue to consult with their medical doctors about the most appropriate medical care,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health.

To view his remarks - http://engel.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=178&sectiontree=6,178

A full text of his remarks follows:

Madame Speaker:

I rise in strong support of this resolution on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Breast Cancer Screening guidelines.

As the second most common cancer among women in the United States, and a leading cause of cancer death for women under 60, breast cancer is an issue that resonates with us all.

The recent changes in recommendations for breast cancer screenings made by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on November 16th have been met with considerable attention and consternation nationwide. I can say quite frankly that I was extremely concerned that news reports related to these screenings would cause some women in their forties to longer get mammograms annually for breast cancer.

This would really be a travesty. We know that declines in breast cancer death rates since 1990 are predominantly attributed to early detection and improvements in treatment. In fact, about 15,000 breast cancer deaths this year were prevented in part due to expanded access to mammography. While our screening tools are not perfect--they are valuable. And, leading medical advocacy groups, including the American Cancer Society, American Medical Association and Susan B. Komen continue to recommend annual mammography for women starting at age 40.

The USPSTF has since clarified that it never meant to send the message that women shouldn’t get breast cancer screenings-but that in certain age groups women should consult with their personal physician about the benefits, risks and limitations of mammography. Unfortunately-and the task force admitted this at a hearing at Energy & Commerce--this message has been largely lost in the media.

I therefore commend the gentle lady from Florida for her resolution today, and really her work all year, guided by her personal experience, to improve education and awareness of the benefits of annual screening.

The guidelines of the USPSTF should certainly not be interpreted as prohibiting a health insurer from providing coverage for mammography services and should not be used by insurers to deny coverage for services that are not recommended on a routine basis.

We recently marked the 25th anniversary of the National Breast Cancer Awareness month, which celebrated great strides in outreach, prevention, detection and treatment. As we work to improve access for all Americans for affordable, comprehensive healthcare, we must continue to encourage the National Cancer Institute to develop more effective screening tools and strategies for improving detection of breast cancer.

And hopefully, one day our significant investments in research at the NIH will lead to a cure for this deadly disease.

Thank you.