Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), a longtime advocate on women’s health issues, lauded today’s successful passage of Rep. Wasserman-Schultz’s resolution on the importance of routine breast cancer screenings for women aged 40-49. He also reminded his colleagues of the necessity to pass his legislation, H.R. 995, the Mammogram and MRI Availability Act, which would require insurance companies that already cover diagnostic mammography and MRI to also cover life-saving screening mammography for women aged 40-49, and screening MRI for women at high risk of breast cancer.

Nadler issued the following statement on the floor of the House:

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution offered by my colleague, Rep. Wasserman-Schultz. With this resolution – which should have the full support of every member of the House – we will be on record with our commitment to not allow women to go without the life-saving screening tests currently available to root out breast cancer at early stages. And this resolution states our support for continued research into developing better tests, so that no woman will face a death-sentence due
to a breast cancer diagnosis.

“I thank my colleague, Rep. Wasserman-Schultz, for bringing this resolution to the floor. But, unfortunately, this resolution won’t cure the potential problem – or dampen the frustration – created by the U.S. Prevention Task Force’s decision a few weeks ago. To do that, we must pass my bill, H.R. 995, the Mammogram and MRI Availability Act. With passage of H.R. 995, women will have legal assurances that no insurance company would be allowed to deny her coverage for a mammogram.

“I ask my colleagues to show their commitment to women’s health by voting yes on this resolution, and by joining me as a cosponsor of H.R. 995.”