Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Welcomes the First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden to Palm Beach County
West Palm Beach - “On Thursday, June 23, 2022, Dr. Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States, and Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm visited Palm Beach County, Florida.
“The First Lady’s visit represents the Biden administration’s unwavering commitment to reducing the number of deaths due to late-stage breast and cervical cancer and eliminating barriers to quality healthcare for those women in need. While the Affordable Health Care Act has addressed some of these concerns, much more work must be done.
“In recent years the number of women of color in the age range of 20 – 35 being impacted by cancer has spiked tremendously. Social determinants such as income, lack of access to the internet, race, geographic location, and limited medical transportation can often undermine one’s access to health care.
“I applaud organizations such as FoundCare of Palm Springs, Promise Fund of Florida, and Sojourners with Healing Hearts of West Palm Beach for their work in the district. To increase access to healthcare, I have requested more than 7 million dollars from the Appropriations for Florida’s 20th Congressional District for community projects.
“These projects will provide crucial access to breast and cervical screening and cancer for early detection screenings and diagnostics to reduce mortality from late-stage breast and cervical cancer. Treatment options and the chance of survival decrease dramatically if cancer is detected late. Florida ranks last for the number of women under 65 in the United States who are insured, which substantially reduces access to care. Furthermore, the projects align closely with the goal of the Biden Administration to increase access to cancer care and early detection for all Americans.
“I look forward to working with Dr. Biden, the administration, and my colleagues in Congress to ensure Americans have access to life-saving resources and health care.”