• June is Men's Health Month and with Father's Day just around the corner, now is a good time to remind men about the importance of preventive health care. As a result of my personal prostate cancer experience, my family and I are very much aware of the importance of early detection, as well as getting appropriate care throughout the treatment process. Cancer prevention, detection, and treatment are issues that strike particularly close to home for me and my family.
• Men's Health Month provides an opportunity to encourage those in our lives - fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, and friends - to exercise, eat healthy, and visit the doctor for a screening. Cancer screenings often detect the disease in its early stages and can increase the likelihood of successful treatment.
• Increased access to preventive services improves health care for all Americans. More than 75% of health care costs in the United States result from chronic diseases, many of which can be prevented or better managed. New consumer protections and the expansion of coverage through the Affordable Care Act will help ensure that more Americans receive recommended screenings and preventive services. In addition, the Affordable Care Act makes unprecedented investments in preventive efforts through the creation of the Prevention and Public Health Fund. This initiative devotes resources to bolster the public health infrastructure, prevent and detect disease, and manage chronic conditions before they become severe. 
• I am a strong supporter of the Prevention and Public Health Fund and believe this funding has already been effective in building our public health infrastructure and improving people's health. Since 2010, South Dakota has received more than $4.7 million in grants from the fund to support community prevention and public health efforts throughout the state. The Prevention and Public Health Fund will continue to make important investments in health and prevention efforts in South Dakota and throughout the United States.
• Biomedical research also plays a critical role in understanding human disease and its treatment. As a longtime supporter of the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, our nation's principal agency for cancer research and training, I have supported efforts to increase funding for these facilities. Maintaining important investments in cancer research will help bring our country closer to finding cures for devastating diseases. 
• Prevention is both cheaper and more effective than treating illness after it strikes and I will continue working to protect and support preventive health care programs that encourage Americans to live healthier lives. During Men's Health Month and as we celebrate Father's Day, let's make sure the men in our lives receive the preventive health care they need.