[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 64 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 3401, THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH STAMP ACT

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                             HON. VIC FAZIO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 9, 1996

  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I introduced 
legislation which would provide additional funding for breast cancer 
research. This innovative idea would authorize the U.S. Postal Service 
to issue a special first class stamp to be priced at 1 cent above the 
cost of normal first-class postage. The additional penny would be 
earmarked for breast cancer research. If only one quarter of the first 
class letters in the country were sent with this stamp, breast cancer 
research would receive about $120 million in additional funds.
  The special issued first class stamp would be an entirely voluntary 
method for interested postal patrons to contribute to breast cancer 
research. The stamp would deliver a first-class letter as well as 
provide the satisfaction of contributing to a cause that saves lives.
  Since 1960, nearly 1 million American women have died of breast 
cancer. That number is higher than all of the battlefield casualties 
that America has suffered this century. Moreover, the overall mortality 
rate for breast cancer has not changed much despite advances in 
pharmaceutical, radiological, and surgical interventions.
  Given the intense competition for Federal research dollars in a 
climate of shrinking budgets, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act 
would allow anyone who used the Postal Service to contribute to 
research which will one day result in a cure for breast cancer. Any 
funds generated by sale of the breast cancer research stamp will 
supplement--not replace--current appropriations for Federal breast 
cancer research.
  We need to find a cure for breast cancer now. I believe that the 
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act is an inventive response to an 
extremely serious health crisis. I urge my colleagues to support this 
important legislation.

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