[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2215-H2216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO NANCY OSTER, BARBIE DEUTSCH AND THE BREAST RESOURCE CENTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very brave 
woman from my district, Nancy Oster, and to a very special 
organization, the Breast Resource Center.
  Nancy Oster is a survivor of breast cancer. As a survivor, she is an 
example and a symbol of courage and persistence. She was determined to 
do something about that life-changing event called breast cancer.
  Another example of resolve and bravery, Barbie Deutsch, is in the 
gallery today. She is from my district, and I am honored to be speaking 
in her presence.
  A few weeks ago, Nancy Oster came to visit me here in Washington 
while she was attending the celebration of survivors in conjunction 
with the Race For The Cure. Seeing her here, I was once again struck by 
her bravery and her caring nature, and energized by her commitment to 
the unique breast cancer collaborative community project that has 
emerged in Santa Barbara. And I want to pay tribute to that effort.
  Nancy Oster is President of the Board of the Breast Resource Center 
of Santa Barbara. This organization came about after a group of women 
diagnosed with the disease found it very difficult to obtain critical 
and objective information.
  Ideally, they wanted a friendly place where anyone impacted by a 
breast cancer diagnosis could come and find information about local and 
national resources, and also find access to what they described as a 
breast cancer grapevine. People who are willing to listen, to share 
experiences, and to offer a reassuring hand.
  Their brainstorming session took place in 1996. Just 1 year later, 
the dreams of these courageous women came to fruition and the Santa 
Barbara Breast Resource Center was born. A cottage on Pueblo Street is 
the home for this special organization in Santa Barbara.
  I have been at the cottage, and it is indeed a warm and inviting 
place. There is a pot of chicken soup on the stove; there is a little 
garden outside; there is access to the Internet. There are many books 
and pamphlets, comfortable couches, and most of all, caring and 
concerned people.
  Dr. Susan Love, its medical director of the Breast Cancer Institute 
in Santa Barbara, serves as honorary chair of the Breast Resource 
Center. She was the driving force in the formation of this group, and 
in her words, information is power, which helps to dispel the fear and 
vulnerability of a breast cancer diagnosis. The Breast Resource Center 
provides the Santa Barbara community the access to that power.
  The central coast of California is unique in that we have so much and 
such easily accessible support for those battling this disease. I hold 
Santa Barbara up as a model for communities all around the country. It 
provides wonderful resources for women who often feel like they have 
nowhere else to turn.

[[Page H2216]]

  I am honored and humbled to be a partner in this effort and in this 
enterprise.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I salute the Breast Cancer Institute, the Breast 
Resource Center, Nancy Oster, Barbie Deutsch, and all the other breast 
cancer survivors who carry on. They have taken what can be seen as a 
tragic circumstance and turned it into something real and something 
powerful. This is a community operating at its best, and I implore 
women all around the country to look to Santa Barbara and these special 
women for inspiration. I also implore those of us who are Members of 
this body, this House of Representatives, to take the inspiration of 
these women as motivation, as a call to action, to provide the 
resources to find a cure, resources for early diagnosis, for effective 
treatment.
  We are partners with you, Barbie and Nancy, and those of you in the 
Breast Resource Center. I salute you, and I thank you for leading the 
way.

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