[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 108 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ITALIAN BREAST CANCER SEMI-POSTAL STAMP

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, just over four years ago, the U.S. 
Postal Service began issuing semipostal stamps to raise money for 
breast cancer research. The breast cancer research stamp is the first 
postal stamp in our Nation's history to raise funds for a special 
cause. Since its inception in the summer of 1998, the program has 
raised over $27.2 million for research.
  The stamp is just as strong today as it was 4 years ago when Congress 
passed legislation I introduced based on a creative idea of my 
constituent, Dr. Ernie Bodai, and the hard efforts of others, including 
Betsy Mullen of the Women's Information Network Against Breast Cancer 
and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
  The price of a breast cancer research stamp recently increased to 
keep pace with the cost of first class mail, ensuring that breast 
cancer research will continue to reap the benefits of the stamp's 
success.
  It has also focused public awareness on a devastating disease and 
provided a symbol of hope and strength to breast cancer survivors, 
their loved ones, and others who care about eradicating breast cancer 
as a life-threatening disease.
  I am pleased to announce today that the concept of a semipostal 
breast cancer research stamp has now spread across international 
borders. The country of Italy recently has followed the United States 
lead and is issuing a semipostal stamp for breast cancer research.
  Breast cancer is not just an American problem, but it is also a 
global problem. Approximately 250,000 new cases of breast cancer are 
diagnosed annually in the European Union. Each year, in Italy alone, 
more than 30,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 11,000 die 
of this disease.
  Modeled after the U.S. version, the Italian stamp is priced above the 
value of a first class letter with proceeds dedicated to the battle 
against breast cancer. Converted into U.S. dollars, approximately 20 
cents for each letter sent with the new semipostal will be used to 
fight breast cancer. In total, Italy expects to raise approximately 
$2.5 million dollars for breast cancer research, education, screening 
and treatment programs throughout the country.
  Italy's new semipostal stamp, which will be available through 2003, 
commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of Queen Elena di 
Savoia, whose philanthropic efforts included funding the first cancer 
center in Italy. Approximately 12.5 million stamps will be produced.
  I am pleased that lessons we have learned from the launch of the U.S. 
breast cancer stamp are being applied in Italy. I would especially like 
to commend the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for its efforts 
to make the Italian stamp the success that it is here in the United 
States. In the words of Nancy Macgregor, the Komen Foundation's 
International Director: ``Breast cancer knows no boundaries, and Italy 
is no exception.''
  I wish Italy the same success with its semipostal that we continue to 
enjoy here in the United States. Working together and building on each 
other's successes, we increase our strength in the battle against 
breast cancer.

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