TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) welcomed First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to Tucson, Arizona. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and HHS Secretary Becerra will visit the San Xavier Health Center in the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. Their tour will focus on Tohono O’odham Nation’s cancer program and services, including those provided in partnership with the University of Arizona Cancer Center.

“I sincerely welcome First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary Becerra to Tucson and thank them for their leadership and renewed efforts to address health inequities and their mission to transform our approach to cancer. Because of President Biden’s ambitious goals, we have seen significant progress in cancer therapeutics, diagnostics, and patient driven care.

I fully support the Biden administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative and its targets to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years and improve the experience of people and their families living with and surviving cancer in an effort to end cancer as we know it. Their visit to the San Xavier District and Tohono O’odham Nation’s cancer program highlights the dedication to addressing the inequities that tribal communities face regarding access to health care and cancer resources. We must ensure that every community in Arizona and across the nation – rural, urban, tribal, and everywhere else – has access to world-class, culturally appropriate cancer diagnostics, therapeutics, and clinical trials.

Madam First Lady and Mr. Secretary, I appreciate your dedication to the people of Arizona and I look to forward to discussing the health equity challenges we face, the health care needs of Southern Arizona and tribal nations.”

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