[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3550-S3551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. TORRICELLI (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg):
  S. 631. A bill to provide for expanded research concerning the 
environmental and genetic susceptibilities for breast cancer; to the 
Committee on Labor and Human Resources.


            the new jersey women's environmental health act

  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, today, Senator Lautenberg and I are 
introducing the New Jersey Women's Environmental Health Act. I rise to 
draw this country's attention to breast cancer and the threat that it 
faces to all American women. It is estimated that more than one in 
eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Over 
46,000 women will die each year. The American Cancer Society estimates 
6,400 new cases of breast

[[Page S3551]]

cancer in New Jersey in 1997--an estimated 1,800 deaths in this year 
alone. It is for this reason that I speak today, in an effort to 
heighten the awareness of breast cancer in our Nation and its possible 
environmental causes.
  Breast cancer in New Jersey is much worse than the rest of the 
country. New Jersey has the highest breast cancer death rate of any 
State in the Nation. Overall, New Jersey has an 11 percent higher 
incidence rate of breast cancer than the national rate. Between 1988-92 
New Jersey's rate was 110.8. For the United States the rate was only 
105.6. The highest counties include: Warren, 34.8 percent; Morris, 20.7 
percent; and Monmouth, 18.5 percent. During this time, 19 of New 
Jersey's 21 counties had a higher incidence rate of breast cancer than 
the national average and two-thirds of these counties had a 10 percent 
or higher incidence rate of breast cancer than the national average.
  Federal and national foundation funding is disproportionately low for 
a State with a significant academic and research presence, and an 
exceptionally high death rate from breast cancer. The per capita 
expenditure on breast cancer funding in New Jersey is only $0.15. 
Neighboring states with lower breast cancer rates have received 
significantly more funding per capita. New York receives $1.11 and 
Massachusetts receives $3.05. In general, New Jersey gets only $0.62 
back for every tax dollar sent to Washington. We contribute $17 billion 
more to the Federal Treasury than we get back--the lowest return in the 
Nation.
  I believe that behind our State's history of environmental problems 
lies the reasons for our high breast cancer rates. It is not a 
coincidence that New Jersey, the State with the most Superfund sites, 
also has the highest breast cancer rates. The current breast cancer 
research efforts are not being focused on epidemiological studies that 
investigate the effect of environmental factors. The value of providing 
expanded research concerning the environmental factors for breast 
cancer in New Jersey is essential not only to New Jersey women, but to 
all women across the country.
  I am optimistic that not only will this study provides some answers 
for women in New Jersey, but will provide groundbreaking research on 
the impact of environmental conditions on breast cancer rates which 
will benefit doctors across this country in their efforts to find a 
cure for this tragic disease. I ask unanimous consent that this be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 631

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``New Jersey Women's 
     Environmental Health Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The American Cancer Society estimates 6,400 new cases 
     of breast cancer will be diagnosed in New Jersey in 1997 with 
     an estimated 1,800 deaths.
       (2) In New Jersey, from 1989 to 1993, 8,378 women died from 
     breast cancer. The average mortality rate per 100,000 was 
     31.1 for white women and 34.4 for African American women.
       (3) New Jersey has the second highest breast cancer 
     mortality rate (31.1) of any state in the United States. New 
     Jersey also has more superfund sites (107) than any other 
     State.
       (4) During the period from 1988 to 1992--
       (A) New Jersey's incidence rate (110.8) of breast cancer 
     was 11 percent higher than the national incidence rate 
     (105.6);
       (B) 19 of New Jersey's 21 counties had a higher incidence 
     rate of breast cancer than the national average; and
       (C) two-thirds of the counties described in subparagraph 
     (B) have a 10 percent or higher incidence rate of breast 
     cancer than the national average.
       (5) The State's University of the Health Sciences is one of 
     only 7 joint centers in the United States, and the only such 
     center in New Jersey, that house a National Cancer Institute 
     designated research center and a National Institute of 
     Environmental Health Sciences research center.

     SEC. 3. RESEARCH CONCERNING BREAST CANCER.

       (a) Grant.--The Secretary of Defense is authorized to award 
     one or more grants to the University of the Health Sciences 
     of New Jersey (hereafter referred to in this Act as the 
     ``University'') to enable the University and affiliates of 
     the University to conduct research, in collaboration with the 
     New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, 
     concerning environmental, lifestyle, and genetic 
     susceptibilities for breast cancer in the State of New 
     Jersey.
       (b) Study and Report.--
       (1) Study.--The University shall use amounts received under 
     the grant under subsection (a) to conduct a study to assess 
     biological markers, exposure to carcinogens, and other 
     potential risk factors contributing to the incidence of 
     breast cancer in the State of New Jersey.
       (2) Epidemiological study.--The New Jersey Department of 
     Health and Senior Services shall be the co-investigator with 
     the University for any population based epidemiologic studies 
     under paragraph (1) that attempt to explore associations 
     between environmental and other risk factors and breast 
     cancer.
       (3) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     University (and the affiliates of the University conducting 
     the study under this subsection) shall prepare and submit to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing 
     the findings and progress made as a result of the studies 
     conducted under paragraphs (1) and (2).
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated--
       (1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
       (2) $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001.
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