1992/06/23 City Council ResolutionRESOLUTION NO. 92 -99
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
SUPPORTING BREAST CANCER ACTION
WHEREAS, breast cancer is a leading killer of American women;
since 1990, the death toll exceeds that of all wars in this
century combined; and
WHEREAS, every twelve minutes one woman dies of breast cancer;
46,000 deaths are predicted in 1992, 4400 in California; and
WHEREAS, the incidence of breast cancer has more than doubled
during the past 30 years from 1 in 20 to 1 in 9, putting every
woman potentially at risk for this deadly disease; and
WHEREAS, 175,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in
1991, representing an annual increase of 2% per year; and
WHEREAS, the mortality rate for women over 50 has been
climbing steadily since 1973 -- .05 per year for White women;
1 percent per year for Black women; and
WHEREAS, despite two decades of research, experts still do not
understand the cause of breast cancer, nor how to prevent it;
and
WHEREAS, research continues to be underfunded; in 1990, only
5% of all Federal cancer research dollars were earmarked for
breast cancer research while breast cancer was responsible for
17 percent of cancer deaths; and
WHEREAS, current breast cancer research is directed at
detection and treatment, but basic research to prevent healthy
women from getting breast cancer is virtually nonexistent; and
WHEREAS, many women are not aware of the availability of
mammograms or are reluctant to have a mammogram; 3 out of 10
White women, 5 out of 10 Black women and 7 out of 10 Hispanic
women over age 40 have never had a mammogram; and
WHEREAS, without adequate funding for effective early
detection, the 2.7 million women in California face the risk
of discovering breast cancer only in advanced and deadly
stages of the disease; and
1
WHEREAS, in 1991, Lt. Governor Leo McCarthy and Senator Diane
Watson introduced a resolution to declare breast cancer an
epidemic in both California and the United States and urge
that state and federal governments recognize it as a public
health emergency and enact legislation to accelerate
investigation into the cause, treatment, and prevention of
this disease.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that BREAST CANCER ACTION, a
grassroots organization of breast cancer activists, urges all
elected and appointed officials of every municipality in the
State of California, and all women's organizations to pledge
solidarity with us by:
(1) promoting community education, awareness and activism
concerning breast cancer as a public health emergency and
(2) supporting the enactment of state and federal legislation
to accelerate investigation into the cause, treatment, and
prevention of breast cancer, as particularly related to
current legislation, now pending.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 23rd day of June, 1992.
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
Mayor
ATTEST:
Deputy City Clerk
ECG -Ly—eHOLLINGSWORTH-Aye H IOKIN--,,-�e-REILLY-,8Y—eSPIROAY-e--
AYES--L NOES -2-- A33 S E N T 0 ABET 0
2