For Immediate Release

April 16, 2008

Washington, DC - U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) was recognized as a Champion of Women’s Health on Tuesday by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance, the National Osteoporosis Foundation, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization and the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance.

 

Green is an advocate in Congress for improved imaging technology that allows doctors to diagnose cancer and begin treatment at an earlier stage. He has defended imaging research from proposed budget cuts, and this year he requested federal funding for new mammography units at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Houston and the Aldine Health Clinic.

 

“Medical technology has progressed dramatically since I came to Congress in 1993, and now is not the time to ease up on our support,” Green said. “Many more women can be diagnosed and healed if we continue our commitment to provide incentives for research and development of new diagnostic tools.”

 

The Champion of Women’s Health Award is given to honor commitment to women’s health and support of early screening, prevention and research to cure diseases that disproportionately affect women.

 

An estimated 2.4 million women living in the U.S. have been diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer, and the number of new cases of female invasive breast cancer is expected to increase slightly in 2008. Women also make up 8 of the 10 million Americans estimated to have osteoporosis. Screening and early detection are key factors in finding a cure for these diseases.

 

In the photo from left to right are: Roberta Biegel, National Osteoporosis Foundation; Debbie Winn, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, Congressman Green; Larry Lundy, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance; Andrew Whitman, Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance.