[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H5521-H5526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      STAMP OUT BREAST CANCER ACT

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1585) to allow postal patrons to contribute to funding for 
breast-cancer research through the voluntary purchase of certain 
specially issued U.S. postage stamps, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1585

       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 ``Stamp Out Breast Cancer 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. SPECIAL POSTAGE STAMPS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 414. Special postage stamps

       ``(a) In order to afford the public a convenient way to 
     contribute to funding for breast cancer research, the Postal 
     Service shall establish a special rate of postage for first-
     class mail under this section.
       ``(b) The rate of postage established under this section--
       ``(1) shall be equal to the regular first-class rate of 
     postage, plus a differential of not to exceed 25 percent;
       ``(2) shall be set by the Governors in accordance with such 
     procedures as the Governors shall by regulations prescribe 
     (in lieu of the procedures under chapter 36); and
       ``(3) shall be offered as an alternative to the regular 
     first-class rate of postage.

     The use of the special rate of postage established under this 
     section shall be voluntary on the part of postal patrons.
       ``(c)(1) Of the amounts becoming available for breast 
     cancer research pursuant to this section, the Postal Service 
     shall pay--
       ``(A) 70 percent to the National Institutes of Health, and
       ``(B) the remainder to the Department of Defense.

     Payments under this paragraph to an agency shall be made 
     under such arrangements as the Postal Service shall by mutual 
     agreement with such agency establish in order to carry out 
     the purposes of this section, except that, under those 
     arrangements, payments to such agency shall be made at least 
     twice a year.
       ``(2) For purposes of this section, the term `amounts 
     becoming available for breast cancer research pursuant to 
     this section' means--
       ``(A) the total amounts received by the Postal Service that 
     it would not have received but for the enactment of this 
     section, reduced by
       ``(B) an amount sufficient to cover reasonable costs 
     incurred by the Postal Service in carrying out this section, 
     including those attributable to the printing, sale, and 
     distribution of stamps under this section,

     as determined by the Postal Service under regulations that it 
     shall prescribe.
       ``(d) It is the sense of the Congress that nothing in this 
     section should--
       ``(1) directly or indirectly cause a net decrease in total 
     funds received by the National Institutes of Health, the 
     Department of Defense, or any other agency of the Government 
     (or any component or program thereof) below the level that 
     would otherwise have been received but for the enactment of 
     this section; or
       ``(2) affect regular first-class rates of postage or any 
     other regular rates of postage.
       ``(e) Special postage stamps under this section shall be 
     made available to the public beginning on such date as the 
     Postal Service shall by regulation prescribe, but in no event 
     later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this 
     section.
       ``(f) The Postmaster General shall include in each report 
     rendered under section 2402 with respect to any period during 
     any portion of which this section is in effect information 
     concerning the operation of this section, except that, at a 
     minimum, each shall include--
       ``(1) the total amount described in subsection (c)(2)(A) 
     which was received by the Postal Service during the period 
     covered by such report; and
       ``(2) of the amount under paragraph (1), how much (in the 
     aggregate and by category) was required for the purposes 
     described in subsection (c)(2)(B).
       ``(g) This section shall cease to be effective at the end 
     of the 2-year period beginning on the date on which special 
     postage stamps under this section are first made available to 
     the public.''.
       (b) Report by the Comptroller General of the United 
     States.--No later than 3 months (but no earlier than 6 
     months) before the end of the 2-year period referred to in 
     section 414(g) of title 39, United States Code (as amended by 
     subsection (a)), the Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall submit to the Congress a report on the operation of 
     such section. Such report shall include--
       (1) an evaluation of the effectiveness and the 
     appropriateness of the authority provided by such section as 
     a means of fund-raising; and
       (2) a description of the monetary and other resources 
     required of the Postal Service in carrying out such section.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
     4 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

``414. Special postage stamps.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. McHugh] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. McHugh].

[[Page H5522]]

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1585 was introduced by the gentlewoman from New 
York [Ms. Molinari], our distinguished colleague, on May 13. She was 
joined at that time by the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio] and 
the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Norwood] in cosponsoring the bill at 
introduction.
  I would like, Mr. Speaker, to recognize the work done by these 
Members in promoting the need for the additional funds hopefully 
provided under this bill for breast cancer research and for bringing 
the measure to the floor. I think they have all done a very, very 
admirable piece of legislating.
  Mr. Speaker, I would, however, also like to particularly sing loud 
the efforts of the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Molinari], whose 
efforts here in this session of Congress I really think generated the 
support amongst the leadership that was necessary to bring this measure 
to the floor at this time, and also the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Fazio] for his early work in helping develop a former bill.
  Also, Mr. Speaker, a tip of the hat to the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Burton], chairman of the full committee, for his leadership in 
assisting us through the subcommittee and to the floor, and of course 
to the entire House leadership for their understanding.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1585, the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act, as 
introduced, allows postal patrons, for the first time in this country, 
to contribute to funding for breast cancer research through the 
voluntary purchase of certain specially issued U.S. postal stamps.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe this bill represents an innovative way to 
generate money for breast cancer research and is similar to a measure 
that was passed in the other body as an amendment to this year's 
Treasury appropriations bill.
  Mr. Speaker, we are aware that some concerns regarding the bill as 
originally written have been expressed. Therefore, the manager's 
amendment at the desk, I believe, will improve the legislation even 
further and, hopefully, will address many of those concerns.
  The idea of this kind of postage stamp, semipostal, as it is known in 
the industry, is indeed innovative in the United States. As I 
mentioned, Mr. Speaker, I believe this is the first time this approach 
has been taken here in America, but the concept is not new. Semipostals 
have been discussed and the proposals for such have been floated over 
the years for various causes, but they have not had in the past the 
support that this proposal has garnered.
  It may interest the body to know, Mr. Speaker, that Canada, the 
largest geographic nation in our hemisphere, but with less population 
and less mail than the mail stream in the United States, has been 
issuing these kinds of postal stamps since 1990. Canada Post 
Corporation adopted a literacy awareness as its cause of choice in 1989 
and has been issuing these kinds of stamps without governmental and 
parliamentary intervention ever since.
  Mr. Speaker, these special postage stamps will be made available to 
the public no later than 1 year after the date of enactment. The amount 
designated for breast cancer research due to this bill will be the 
total amount of revenue received by the Postal Service because of the 
enactment minus the reasonable cost incurred by the Postal Service 
attributed to the printing, sale, and distribution of these stamps.
  Under this legislation, Mr. Speaker, the Postmaster General would be 
required to include this program in the annual report of the Postal 
Service and transmit its findings to the Congress. At a minimum, the 
report would include the amount of funds received as a result of this 
legislation and the reasonable cost claimed to be incurred in 
establishing the volunteer program.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Comptroller of the United States, through 
the offices of the GAO, will be required to complete an evaluation to 
judge the effectiveness and the appropriateness of the authority to 
raise funds in this manner in a description of the cost to the Postal 
Service incurred for the administration of the program.
  Mr. Speaker, I firmly believe that a good deal of thought has gone 
into this base bill, a great deal of additional work on the part of all 
the cosponsors has gone into the compromise that is entailed in the 
amended version in the manager's amendment. But most importantly, Mr. 
Speaker, I know this proposal represents a necessary, thoughtful, and 
ultimately productive way to assist this Nation's scientific community 
in the vitally important quest for a cure of this deadly killer.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, most people in the United States have in some way 
been impacted by this terrible disease. Today, through the adoption of 
this bill, the House has its opportunity to make a stand against this 
disease, and in the process, give every woman and including those who 
know, love, and care for them, new hope.
  Again, I thank the sponsors of this legislation for their hard work 
and concerns, and as a final note again, to particularly the 
gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Molinari] for once again being the 
conscience of this House.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1585, the 
Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act, which will allow postal patrons to 
continue funding for breast cancer research through the voluntary 
purchase of newly created specially issued U.S. postage stamps.
  As a cosponsor of a similar bill, H.R. 407, introduced in the 
Congress by the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio], my friend, I am 
pleased to join the gentleman from New York [Mr. McHugh], the chairman, 
in bringing this piece of legislation to the floor of the House.
  The idea of creating a breast cancer research stamp originally 
surfaced in the 104th Congress, when the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Fazio], at the suggestion of his constituent, Dr. Ernie Bodai, 
introduced this legislation.
  H.R. 3401 will provide additional funding for breast cancer research 
through the sale of a semipostal stamp. The term ``semipostal'' means 
stamps with a surtax on the regular postal rate with the extra revenue 
earmarked for a designated charity.
  An identical measure was introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein in 
the other body. At the opening of this session of Congress, Senator 
Feinstein joined the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio], following 
his leadership, and reintroduced her breast cancer research stamp bill, 
S. 726, in the Senate. In May, the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. 
Molinari] adopted the idea by introducing her version of the special 
breast cancer postage stamp.

  The incidence of breast cancer continues to far outstrip available 
resources and funds, and the statistics are as sobering as they are 
rising. Breast cancer kills almost 50,000 women every year. Every 12 
minutes an American woman succumbs to breast cancer. It is the leading 
cause of death for women between the ages of 35 and 62, and it is the 
second leading cause of death for all women.
  More than 1.8 million women in America have been diagnosed with 
breast cancer, and an additional million more are unaware that they 
have breast cancer. It affects our wives, our sisters, our mothers, our 
daughters, all American women.
  The financial resources to fight breast cancer are just not enough. 
That is why the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act is before us today. It 
provides a vehicle for those of us who are concerned about breast 
cancer research and the funding to buy a semipostal stamp.
  The language of this legislation has now been changed. The price of 
the semipostal breast cancer stamp can be anywhere from 1 to 8 cents 
more than the regular postage stamp. And we have an opportunity of 
funneling significant funds to the National Institutes of Health for 
breast cancer research. The program is entirely voluntary. It does not 
affect the regular rate of the postal stamp. It will allow the U.S. 
Postal Service to cover its administrative costs prior to directing the 
funds to cancer research. And, of course, this experiment will run only 
2 years, after which it will be evaluated.
  Last week, Mr. Speaker, the other body overwhelmingly adopted by a 
vote of 83 to 17 this same legislation. I strongly urge all of my 
colleagues, on a bipartisan basis, to join us in approving this 
legislation. I want to commend the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. 
Molinari], my friend, for her leadership on this matter.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Fazio], the original author of this legislation.

[[Page H5523]]

  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Lantos] for yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1585, sponsored 
by the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Molinari] and myself.
  We come to the floor today with the idea of an experiment whereby the 
American people would contribute to public health causes through the 
voluntary purchase of a U.S. postage stamp, or a semipostal, as it is 
known around the world.
  As the gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos] said, in May 1996, Dr. 
Ernie Bodai, one of my constituents and chief of surgery at the Kaiser 
Permanente Medical Center in Sacramento, CA, came to my office with 
what I thought was an innovative proposal. Dr. Bodai's idea involved a 
bill to establish a special first class postage stamp priced at 1 cent 
above normal first class postage, with the additional penny going 
toward breast cancer research.
  As a result of Dr. Bodai's unflagging personal effort, I was pleased 
to introduce the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act in the 104th 
Congress. That piece of legislation gained the support of 86 Members of 
the House of Representatives and thousands and thousands of people 
across the country who strongly advocated its cosponsorship.
  This year, I reintroduced this bill in the 105th Congress, and H.R. 
407 has now the support of 125 of my colleagues.

                              {time}  1645

  Thanks to some energetic and tireless efforts by several 
compassionate groups within the breast cancer advocacy community and a 
special thank you to the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Molinari], we 
are considering today H.R. 1585, the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act of 
1997.
  H.R. 1585 remains true to the idea of the American public 
participating in the search for a cure for breast cancer. It also 
ensures that money raised by the breast cancer research stamp will not 
replace current Federal funding levels at NIH or the Department of 
Defense. It will only add to it. It provides a workable and realistic 
framework for a cooperative effort between the Postal Service and the 
American public to take place.
  I know questions have been raised, how much money could be raised by 
the sale of a stamp priced above the normal first class postage rate 
and how much would such an endeavor cost the Postal Service to 
administer. This bill, H.R. 1585, sets up a demonstration project to 
answer those and other questions. After 2 years, the General Accounting 
Office will provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of this project 
and after 2 years perhaps there will be additional money from the stamp 
going toward breast cancer research at both NIH and at the very 
innovative programs at DOD.
  I want to thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. McHugh], chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Postal Service for working out the details of this 
bill so that we may finally put this project into place, and the 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton], chairman of the full committee, 
for helping to assure this bill could come to the floor. I particularly 
want to thank again the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Molinari] for 
her effort and commitment to seeing that this bill and this cause moves 
forward in the House of Representatives. I am so pleased it could be 
accomplished at least in this House while she remains a Member.
  We have made tremendous progress in raising money, in raising 
awareness, and in raising the spirits of so many in the battle against 
a disease that has devastated the lives of millions of loved ones, but 
we all know we still have a long way to go. I know that we will get 
there through the support of legislators in Congress and the grassroots 
support throughout our communities.
  By passing H.R. 1585, we will be enabling the people of the United 
States to demonstrate a spirit of volunteerism to advance our successes 
in finding a cure for breast cancer. I think now the ball is passed to 
those people who have made it so important that this Congress consider 
this legislation. They will be able to prove the degree to which their 
voluntary spirit and community commitment can produce the results we 
all seek.
  I urge my colleagues to vote to suspend the rules and to pass this 
important piece of legislation and then find a way to take the 
legislation that is somewhat different, that has passed the Senate by 
an overwhelming margin, meld them together and produce a piece of 
legislation that will cause this experiment to take life.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California again 
for his work and for his kind comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. 
Molinari], whose important efforts on this bill have already been amply 
described.
  Ms. MOLINARI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my unequivocal 
support for the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act. I would also like to take 
this opportunity to thank from the bottom of my heart the gentleman 
from New York [Mr. McHugh] and the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] 
for their support, their guidance, their attention and all their 
important contributions in developing this stronger bill. Finally, I 
would like to thank and salute the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Fazio] for his assistance in leading the fight to craft a bipartisan 
bill on an issue so close to all of us.
  For the first time in our Nation's history, the Stamp Out Breast 
Cancer Act will give Americans, every American, the opportunity to 
become more personally involved in funding breast cancer research. This 
legislation will allow all of us to contribute to the effort to put an 
end to what is now an incurable disease by giving us all the option of 
purchasing a specifically issued first class stamp.
  That is one of the beauties of this bill. It is a completely 
voluntary method of raising money for a worthwhile cause. I envision if 
we do this right an opportunity for people when it comes time for 
Christmas shopping, when it comes time for birthday presents, alongside 
with the little gift, you buy them a roll of stamps so that that 
individual knows that you might have spent an extra $5 or $10 to give 
your friend a present that also went toward reducing the risk of dying 
from breast cancer in this country. I envision companies having the 
impact of their employees coming to them purchasing stamps that have 
the stamp out breast cancer insignia on it, companies having contests 
amongst each other. I believe the American people will rise to the 
challenge of saying if we make it easy for you, if we make it an 
opportunity in your daily life of completing chores to donate to breast 
cancer, they will all absolutely rise to that challenge and help us 
conquer this disease.
  I also believe that it will take us all a little less pain when we 
pay our bills if we know that while we are paying those bills, sending 
off those credit card company payments that we may also be contributing 
to finding a cure for cancer. Husbands, daughters, brothers and sisters 
will all have an opportunity to buy a stamp toward saving a life.
  As has been said, the voluntary purchase of this stamp will direct 
funds to the noble research efforts led by the National Institutes of 
Health and the Department of Defense.
  Over 9 years ago I lost my best friend to breast cancer. My 
grandmother, Susan, battled breast cancer and was not the only life 
forever shattered by this terrible disease. In fact, my husband's 
mother too has fought a breast cancer fight for years. It is now my 
hope that my daughter, Susan Paxon, named after my grandmother, will 
never have to know the fear that I go through every year, the sweaty 
palms the night before a mammography, the inability to concentrate 
until you hear from the doctor that says it is all clear again for the 
next year. I want to make sure that her generation of young women will 
not know the fright that our generation has known because we have lost 
an entire generation of women to breast cancer way too early. I, like 
so many other women and men, would appreciate knowing that I helped 
make a difference in the fight against breast cancer just by spending a 
few extra pennies for a stamp I needed anyway.
  Mr. Speaker, let me just close by saying that if the Postal Service 
can issue a stamp in honor of Bugs Bunny or Elvis Presley, surely we 
can ensure

[[Page H5524]]

that the lives and legacies of women who have suffered the ravaging 
effects of breast cancer will not go unnoticed. In closing, let me 
thank Dr. Ernest Bodai for developing this mechanism, my staff 
assistant Jennifer Prazmark for believing so clearly, and my colleagues 
the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio], the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Burton] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. McHugh] for giving me 
an opportunity to leave this Congress with my head held extremely high, 
believing that we may have passed a very, if not one of the most 
important pieces of legislation in a bipartisan fashion that may save 
some women's lives sooner than we thought, hoped and prayed.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton], who has been a 
champion of all issues relating to women.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind words and 
for yielding me this time. I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
McHugh] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos] for their 
leadership on the floor on this bill, and I particularly thank the 
gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Molinari] and the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Fazio] for their overall leadership in this important 
bill. I know I speak for the Women's Caucus, which I cochair, when I 
embrace this bill in their behalf.
  The Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act has two purposes as far as I am 
concerned. The very fact of the stamp will help to raise the 
consciousness of women to go for a mammogram, and the voluntary funding 
mechanism is most important. We have already gotten some considerable 
distance on breast cancer simply by raising the consciousness of women 
to go and get a mammogram. We now see rates falling, including rates 
for African-American women which were rising steadily before.
  But, Mr. Speaker, we have got to move on to the next important 
plateaus, and those are prevention and research. We have a whole set of 
notions about how we may go at prevention, but none of them has been 
proven. We are told about lifestyle and environmental factors. We are 
told to do aerobics. We are told that diet has an effect, that alcohol 
consumption, that obesity, that chemical hazards and radiation have an 
effect, but nobody knows because the research is yet to be done. With 
this research at the National Institutes of Health and in the 
Department of Defense, we would look to such areas as the contribution 
to breast cancer made by the environment, by hormones, by genes. We 
would look at areas still to be uncovered, such as the role of 
accessibility and delivery of medical care to underserved populations. 
We would look at gene therapy and vaccines and chemotherapeutics. We 
would look at the susceptibility of various groups of women and why. 
Until we do that, we will not be able to conquer this disease. We have 
gone very far with cervical cancer because of research. We need to go 
the rest of the distance, and this stamp will make that possible.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana [Mr. Burton], the chairman of the full committee and, as we 
have heard here today, one of the instrumental players in this victory 
here today.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. McHugh] for yielding me this time. I want to congratulate the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio], the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
McHugh], the gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos] and the gentlewoman 
from New York [Ms. Molinari], especially for their leadership in 
getting this bill to the floor and passed.
  I have had a personal experience in my family with breast cancer, and 
I do not think people realize the impact that it has until they see 
somebody that they care about lose their hair. They come home one day 
and there are tears and they say my hair is falling out because they 
are under chemotherapy. Then they have to cut the hair off and buy a 
wig. Then they go through the problems of sickness because of 
chemotherapy and the radiation. It is something that people cannot 
imagine unless they have had it happen in their own family or to 
somebody that they care about.
  That is why it is so important for us in this body and across this 
country to do everything we can to wipe out the last vestiges of 
cancer, all kinds of cancer, but especially breast cancer. One in eight 
women are going to get breast cancer in their lifetime. That is a 
statistic that we just simply cannot live with. The mammograms that we 
talk about women getting annually when they get above 40 years old many 
times misses the cancer, and so sometimes women carry that cancer in 
their body for 4 or 5 years before it manifests itself and many times 
it is too late for them to be saved. So anything that we can do, 
anything we can do to help bring about an end to breast cancer is 
something that this body ought to be working very hard to accomplish.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I want to add my support for this bill. It may not 
raise a lot of money but if it does not raise lot of money, at least it 
will raise a lot of awareness and people will realize that we have to 
make this a No. 1 priority in this country. I hope that one day 
everybody in this body who is sponsoring this bill and everybody who is 
supporting it will live to see cancer eradicated once and for all and 
women not having to wake up every day of their lives fearing a lump in 
their breast may be the end of their lives.
  I rise in support of H.R. 1585, the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act.
  I would like to commend the gentlewoman from New York, Representative 
Molinari, and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Postal Service, 
Representative McHugh, for the good work they have done on this 
important piece of legislation.
  Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. In 1996, an 
estimated 184,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 46,000 
died of the disease. Women continue to face a one in eight chance of 
developing breast cancer during their lifetime. Breast cancer is the 
leading cause of cancer death for all women aged 35-44.
  Congress has made much progress in the past few years in providing 
funding for breast cancer research. During the 104th Congress we 
increased breast cancer research by increasing funding to the National 
Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense's Peer-Reviewed 
Breast Cancer Research Program by 25 percent
  For fiscal year 1998, the House Appropriations Committee has approved 
a 9-percent funding increase to the NIH--$704 million over last year's 
appropriation.
  However, in spite of the significant research advances that have been 
made in regard to breast cancer, there is still much more to be done. 
We still do not know what causes breast cancer, how to prevent it, or 
how to cure it.
  We must continue to remain committed to investment in breast cancer 
research until we find out these answers. The more we invest in breast 
cancer research, the more we will be able to offer hope to women and 
their families.
  For these reasons, I would like to voice my strong support for the 
Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act. This bill would provide another funding 
stream for breast cancer research.
  I would like to point out that this is an experimental program that 
seeks to determine whether or not this is an effective way to raise 
money for breast cancer research. Under this bill, the program will 
sunset after 2 years and GAO is required to do a study to evaluate the 
effectiveness and appropriateness of this type of fundraising.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill. Hopefully, 
through passage of this bill, the funding raised from this stamp will 
help bring us closer to eradicating breast cancer once and for all.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee], who in the very short time that she has been 
with us has made a remarkable impact on the work of this body.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the gentleman from California both 
for his words and also for the commitment that he has made to so many 
causes improving the quality of life for humankind.
  Mr. Speaker, let me say that this is the best of the U.S. Congress. 
This act today, this exhibition of unity is really what this Congress 
is all about. Might I add my applause and congratulations to the 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] and the gentleman from New York 
[Mr. McHugh], certainly the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio], and 
the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Molinari], and certainly the words 
of the gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos]. This is a coming 
together in a recognition that we need to fight a problem and pay 
tribute at the same time.

[[Page H5525]]

  I would like to offer a tribute to all of the women who have lived 
with and maybe later died because of breast cancer, to all of the 
survivors and fighters day after day after day. I would like to further 
say to them that we are going to join this race with them, we are going 
to do it by passing this legislation, H.R. 1585, the Stamp Out Breast 
Cancer Act, which would direct the U.S. Postal Service to establish a 
special postage rate for first class mail.
  Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women; 
2.6 million women in the United States are living with breast cancer, 
1.6 million who have been diagnosed and an estimated 1 million who do 
not yet know they have the disease. That is the most frightening part 
of this disease, as was noted earlier. It is a disease that can be in 
the body of women over a period of time without their knowing it: young 
women, women with children, women with promise, women with a future in 
front of them, women who are dynamic and yes, day-to-day women who are 
nurturers and workers every day keeping this country going.
  In 1997, approximately 184,300 new cases of breast cancer will be 
diagnosed and 44,300 women will die from this disease. Thirty-eight 
percent of African-American women with breast cancer will not live more 
than 5 years. Of course this disease affects our families, mothers, 
daughters, neighbors, sisters. It is a disease that all of us want to 
put on our boxing gloves and fight fair, but we want to win this 
victory.

                              {time}  1700

  It is important to know that it impacts women who have not had a 
child before the age of 30. Most breast cancer, over 70 percent, 
however, occurs in women who have no identifiable risk factors, maybe 
other than knowing that women and their families have likewise had 
breast cancer.
  And so we see this is a hidden disease, this is a frightening 
disease, this is a disease that is sometimes whispered around family 
members when they hear that Aunt Mary or Cousin Susan or their mom has 
breast cancer. We want to stamp out breast cancer, and we want to pay 
tribute to those who work so hard.
  As someone who has participated year after year in the Susan Coleman 
Race for the Cure, so many people around the country have shown 
themselves proud by every fall coming together in sisterhood, along 
with our brothers, to fight against breast cancer. Let me say that this 
stamp to help us stamp out breast cancer, Mr. Speaker, is the right way 
for this Congress to go. Thanks to all of those who had the fortitude 
to do this, and I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting and 
passing this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to express my support for H.R. 1585, the 
Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act. This bill would direct the U.S. Postal 
Service to establish a special postage designation for first-class mail 
that will contribute a set amount to breast cancer research and 
education. This plan allows patrons to voluntarily choose to contribute 
to this funding effort. The effort cannot be minimized in any way, the 
crisis of breast cancer for women in the United States is claiming 
hundreds of thousands of lives. Experts estimate that over 2.6 million 
women in the U.S. are living with breast cancer, 1.6 million women who 
have been diagnosed, and another 1 million women who do not yet know 
that they have the disease. The best hope that these women have who 
have not yet been diagnosed is the continuing education of the public 
about the importance of regular examinations for the early detection of 
a malignancy and tireless cancer research in search for a cure. The 
frightening numbers go on and on, 1 out of 8 women in the United States 
will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. this year, a new case of 
breast cancer will be diagnosed every 3 minutes, and we lose a women to 
breast cancer in this country, every 12 minutes.
  The scientific community apparently has no new answers; we know no 
more about breast cancer and how to cure it in 1997 as we did in 1937. 
The same basic treatment methods from three score ago, are 
unfortunately still being used today, surgery, chemotherapy, and 
radiation. We must find the answers, we must resolve among ourselves 
today, to make the difference. For too long, the diagnosis of breast 
cancer for America's women has been a likely death sentence, 
particularly for African-American women. In all, 38 percent of African-
American women with breast cancer live no more than 5 years after 
diagnosis and 25 percent of White American women. Both of these figures 
are entirely too high, too many of our grandmothers, mothers, aunts, 
sisters, daughters, and friends have fallen to this cruel disease.
  Every woman is at risk to develop breast cancer, a likelihood that 
increases as a women ages. Unbelievably, over 70 percent of breast 
cancer cases occur in women who have had no identifiable risk factors. 
But only 40 percent of women follow the recommended guidelines for 
screening mammography. It is so easy for us to think that it will never 
be us, it will always be someone else, but who among us is really 
willing to take that chance? We would say none of us, but millions of 
American women do so everyday. I hope that the Stamp Our Breast Cancer 
Act can start its efforts by educating American women that they are the 
most effective weapon that we have to combat the encroaching effects of 
breast cancer. The importance of this effort cannot be minimized 
because most irregularities that are found to be malignant are actually 
found by aware and educated women as to the obvious dangers of breast 
cancer.
  In closing, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1585, 
because if this option to give to the effort to end this unfortunate 
crisis saves one life, it has done more than enough. For our families, 
for our daughters and granddaughters, we must act now, so that their 
world is a much safer and better place than our own.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Maryland [Mrs. Morella] a woman who has always been at the forefront of 
health issues, and particularly women's health issues, and an original 
cosponsor of the first Fazio bill on this initiative.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank the gentleman, 
the chairman of the subcommittee that had this legislation, not only 
for yielding the time, but for the work and leadership that he has 
provided.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of H.R. 1585, the Stamp 
Out Breast Cancer Act. It enhances the quality of life, it enhances and 
keeps families together.
  This bill, which was sponsored by the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. 
Molinari] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio] is built on 
legislation offered in this Congress and in the laws by the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Fazio]. I am a cosponsor of both bills, and I am 
really pleased that my two colleagues have worked with the gentleman 
from New York [Mr. McHugh] to develop a bill that we hope will open up 
a new avenue for biomedical research funding. I also want to thank the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos] and the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Burton] for their cooperation in bringing this bill to the floor.
  H.R. 1585 authorizes a 2-year demonstration program establishing a 
special postal rate for first class mail for those who wish to 
contribute to breast cancer research. After administrative expenses 
have been covered, 70 percent of the funds raised will go to the 
National Institutes for Health for breast cancer research, 30 percent 
will go to the Department of Defense for its peer-reviewed breast 
cancer research program. At the end of the 2-year demonstration, the 
General Accounting Office will be required to report to Congress on the 
effectiveness of this fund-raising strategy. The bill includes 
provisions to ensure adequate oversight and payment for administrative 
costs incurred by the postal service; in other words, a very well-
crafted bill.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill provides a potential source of additional 
funding for breast cancer and other public health priorities. Despite 
the progress that has been made, we still know very little about breast 
cancer treatment and prevention. Last year approximately 182,000 women 
were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 46,000 died from the disease. 
Women have a 1 in 8 chance of breast cancer during their lifetimes. 
Establishing a new source of research dollars is particularly important 
at a time when Federal resources are being squeezed as a result of our 
efforts to balance the budget. We must be more creative in our efforts 
to increase our investment in biomedical research, and this bill does 
it.
  Again I commend the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Molinari] the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio] the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
McHugh] the gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos] and the gentleman 
from Indiana [Mr. Burton] for their work on this innovative approach. I 
urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.

[[Page H5526]]

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I too have no further requests for time. Let me just 
briefly, in closing, again thank all of those who have been involved in 
this initiative.
  I want to pay, too, a tribute to the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Lantos], my colleague, for his leadership here today. I think it very 
clearly emphasizes the bipartisan nature of this bill and certainly 
recognizes the bipartisan tragedy that this disease can bring, and I 
urge all my colleagues to support this initiative.
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1585, the 
Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act.
  Over the past 3 years, I have had the honor of leading many Members 
of this House in the fight to promote breast cancer awareness. Last 
year my efforts culminated in the creation of the breast cancer stamp. 
The stamp is a tribute to those who have survived breast cancer and 
those who have not. More likely than not, each one of us, if we haven't 
already, will come face to face with the tragedy of breast cancer--
through a mother, daughter, wife, grandmother, niece, aunt, or 
neighbor. Every time a book of stamps is purchased at the post office, 
people will be reminded of the urgency for early detection of breast 
cancer in order to save millions of women's lives.
  Unfortunately, increasing public awareness and educating women about 
the importance of early detection and diagnosis is not enough. We must 
do more.
  According to the National Cancer Institute, Nassau and Suffolk 
Counties rank first and fourth respectively, in breast cancer mortality 
rates among the 116 largest counties in the United States. Research is 
a valuable and indispensable instrument in trying to understand this 
devastating disease. Right now on Long Island, the National Cancer 
Institute is conducting a $15 million study examining the environmental 
effects that may be factors in breast cancer in Nassau and Suffolk 
Counties. Yet, we must do more.
  H.R. 1585 builds upon the success of the Breast Cancer Awareness 
Stamp, by authorizing a 2-year demonstration project to offer the 
public a new way to fund research for breast cancer by raising money 
through specially designed U.S. postage stamps. The stamps will be 
offered for purchase as an alternative to regular first-class postage. 
Seventy percent of the funds raised by this bill will be directed to 
the National Institute of Health and the remainder to the Department of 
Defense solely for the purpose of breast cancer research. Mr. Speaker, 
too many of our mothers, daughters, and sisters have been afflicted 
with this destructive disease. We must do more, and I urge my 
colleagues to vote today to stamp out breast cancer forever.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join in supporting H.R. 1585, 
the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act. Breast cancer is an especially 
horrific disease that attacks one out of eight women in the United 
States. With these numbers, almost no family in the United States is 
immune from this disease that kills thousands each year. Too many of 
our mothers, sisters, and daughters each year suffer from the ravages 
of this disease. Nearly 45,000 women will die this year from breast 
cancer alone, with more than 180,000 new cases diagnosed. In Texas, 
2,800 women will die, and we will add 11,500 new breast cancer cases to 
the rolls.
  We have made progress in recent years, in early detection, diagnosis, 
and treatment. But we are too far from adequate treatment and too far 
from a cure. We need to make cancer research, and breast cancer 
research in particular, a priority.
  This bill would provide an innovative, new source of badly needed 
funding for breast cancer research for a 2-year demonstration period. 
The Postal Service would create a new postage rate for first-class mail 
as an alternative to the regular rate, and customers would have the 
choice of buying either. The Postal Service would distribute 70 percent 
of the revenues raised to the National Institutes of Health and 30 
percent to the Department of Defense breast cancer research program. 
These moneys will not displace any other funding.
  I support this effort and urge passage of the Stamp Out Breast Cancer 
Act. My hometown of San Antonio is a growing cancer research center, 
where doctors and researchers work with brave, valiant women to improve 
treatment and further our understanding of breast cancer. I am 
confident that with perseverance and proper funding, we will find ways 
to conquer breast cancer. This legislation is a step in the right 
direction.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Snowbarger). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1585, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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