Presidential Document2022-04613
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, 2022
Primary source
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Published
March 3, 2022
Signed
February 28, 2022
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2022)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 11927-11928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04613]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2022 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 11927]]
Proclamation 10344 of February 28, 2022
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, 2022
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Cancer is personal to nearly every family, including my
own. Each year, more than 50,000 families across the
country lose a loved one to colorectal cancer--the
fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause
of cancer deaths in America. The toll it exacts is
immeasurable, but when we detect colorectal cancer
early, we can save lives and deliver hope. During
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we raise
awareness of this dreaded disease and renew our
commitment to ending cancer as we know it.
While anyone can be afflicted by colorectal cancer, we
know that this illness strikes at a disproportionate
rate among Black Americans as well as Americans over
the age of 50. Getting regular screenings and
identifying symptoms and risk factors are both pivotal
to saving lives. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, symptoms such as blood in the
stool, a change in bowel habits, stomach pain,
bloating, cramps that do not go away, or weight loss
without a known cause should be discussed with a health
care provider. However, early stages of colorectal
cancer often emerge without symptoms, and it is
important to begin regular screenings starting at the
age of 45.
In addition, people who smoke, consume alcohol, or are
obese are more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal
cancer. Adopting healthy behaviors--including quitting
the use of tobacco products, reducing alcohol
consumption, and eating meals that include fruits,
vegetables, and whole grains--can also reduce your
risk. For more information on risk factors, please
visit <a href="http://www.Cancer.gov">www.Cancer.gov</a>.
I believe that it is within our power to end cancer as
we know it. That is why I have re-ignited the Cancer
Moonshot and set new ambitious goals, to reduce the
death rate from cancer by 50 percent over the next 25
years and to improve the lives of people and their
families living with and surviving cancer. I have
called on the Congress to create the Advanced Research
Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), which will invest
billions of dollars to advance breakthroughs in the
prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and
other deadly diseases. As we continue to pursue game-
changing scientific breakthroughs, my Administration
also remains steadfast in our commitment to increasing
colorectal cancer screenings, follow-ups, and
referrals, with a particular focus on underserved
populations. On February 2, 2022, the First Lady and I
launched a call to action on cancer screening and early
detection. Our goal is to jumpstart progress on
potentially life-saving screenings that far too many
Americans have missed as a result of the pandemic and
help ensure that everyone in the United States benefits
equitably from the tools we have to detect and diagnose
cancer. We are calling on every American to get back on
track with their recommended screenings, including
colorectal cancer screenings, and for the public and
private sectors to increase access to early detection
for individuals and communities.
Ensuring that every American has access to quality,
affordable health coverage is another critical way that
we can win the fight against cancer. Thanks
[[Page 11928]]
to the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans
must cover certain preventive services with no out-of-
pocket costs. This coverage now includes colorectal
cancer screenings for adults over the age of 45, making
it easier to get colorectal cancer screenings and
helping improve access to earlier treatment. Health
coverage under the Affordable Care Act has never been
more accessible and affordable than it is today, and I
encourage all Americans to learn more by visiting
<a href="http://www.HealthCare.gov">www.HealthCare.gov</a>.
During National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, I
urge every American to exercise vigilance around their
own health and the health of their loved ones. Early
diagnosis and treatment save lives--and getting
screened for colorectal cancer is vitally important as
we continue our shared mission to end cancer as we know
it.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of
the United States of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws
of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2022 as
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage
all citizens, government agencies, private businesses,
non-profit organizations, and other groups to join in
activities that will increase awareness and prevention
of colorectal cancer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord
two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
sixth.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2022-04613
Filed 3-2-22; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 3, 2022.
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