For Immediate
Release: October 28, 2004
Audio Clip
Lawmakers Honored for Breast/Cervical
Cancer Legislation
The Oklahoma Nurses Association (ONA) is honoring
two state lawmakers for their efforts to ensure all Oklahoma
women have access to breast and cervical cancer treatment.
State Sen. Debbe
Leftwich, D-OKC, and Rep. Danny
Hilliard, D-Sulphur, were authors of House Bill 2552
and will each receive the 2004 Friend of Nursing Award.
According to the association, the Friend of Nursing Award
is given to non-nurses who have rendered valuable assistance
to the nursing profession. ONA cited the lawmakers’
efforts to secure more funding for breast and cervical cancer
treatment and for their support on issues critically important
to the health of all Oklahomans.
“The Oklahoma Nurses Association owes Rep. Hilliard
and Sen. Leftwich a debt of gratitude for the tremendous
work they did in passing HB 2552,” said Jane Nelson,
ONA Executive Director. “The lives of uninsured and
underinsured Oklahoma women may be saved and thousands of
children spared the painful loss of a parent as a direct
result of the efforts of these two legislators and Governor
and Mrs. Henry. They will leave a legacy of hope and the
gift of life to those who would otherwise suffer.”
HB 2552 takes effect November 1, 2004 and ensures Oklahoma
will be able to take advantage of federal matching dollars
available for breast and cervical cancer treatment. $2.5
million was appropriated to a revolving fund, enabling the
state to capture nearly $10 million in federal matching
funds.
“More than 2,700 Oklahoma women are diagnosed with
breast or cervical cancer each year. Overall, we rank fourteenth
in the nation in the number of annual cancer related deaths.
Yet out of fifty states, Oklahoma was the only one not taking
advantage of this federal matching program,” said
Leftwich. “It is humbling to be honored for simply
doing what needed to be done, because this will literally
help us save the lives of thousands of Oklahoma women.”
The legislation was named for Rep. Hilliard’s mother,
Belle Maxine Hilliard, who died of breast cancer.
“I think it is always important to remember that we’re
not talking about statistics, we’re talking about
people—people like my mother and thousands of other
Oklahoma women. But it is also important to remember that
it isn’t just a women’s health issue—it
impacts the lives of everyone around them—their husbands,
sons, brothers and so many more. I’m proud to be chosen
for this award, but prouder still that we can point to this
accomplishment on behalf of the people of Oklahoma,”
Hilliard said.
The legislators will be honored during the Oklahoma Nurses
Association Awards Luncheon this Friday, October 29 at the
Doubletree Downtown Tulsa Hotel.
For
more information contact:
Senate Communications Office -
(405) 521-5774
