Congressional Record, Volume 150 Issue 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)

[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H104-H109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

BREAST CANCER STAMP EXTENSION

Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1385) to extend the provision of title 39, United States Code,
under which the United States Postal Service is authorized to issue a
special postage stamp to benefit breast cancer research, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 1385

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

SECTION 1. BREAST CANCER STAMP EXTENSION.

Section 414(h) of title 39, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``2005'' and inserting ``2006''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Ose) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose).

General Leave

Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1385, introduced by my distinguished colleague from
my home State of California (Mr. Baca), extends the life of the breast
cancer research semipostal stamp.
Mr. Speaker, on the night of July 22, 1997, Dr. Ernie Bodai, Betsy
Mullen, and David Goodman sat breathlessly in the House gallery
awaiting the outcome of a vote that they had worked tirelessly to see
become a reality. At that time, H.R. 1585, the Stamp Out Breast Cancer
Act, was landmark legislation establishing the Breast Cancer Research
Stamp Program and directing the U.S. Postal Service to issue a new
first-class breast cancer stamp with proceeds benefiting breast cancer
research at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of
Defense Breast Cancer Research Programs.
This advocacy team, a surgeon, a survivor and a widower, used their
own time and resources to convince lawmakers to pass this essential
legislation.
Dr. Ernie Bodai of Carmichael, California, a constituent and personal
friend of mine, led the charge. After 14 visits to Washington within 2
years, as well as spending over $100,000 of his personal savings, he
succeeded, creating the lead for breast cancer fund-raising. Dr. Bodai
is the pioneer of the breast cancer stamp, chief of general surgery for
Kaiser Permanente, and CEO of CureBreastCancer, Inc.

[[Page H105]]

Joining him in this crusade was Betsy Mullen. Ms. Mullen is one of
slightly over 2 million women living in the United States who have been
diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. She was diagnosed with
breast cancer in 1992 at age 33 and formed the Women's Information
Network Against Breast Cancer, the acronym WIN ABC, which provides
information and support for life-and-death decisions about treatment
options.
The final member of this advocacy team is David Goodman, a WIN board
member who lost his wife to breast cancer less than a year before
appearing on the House floor.
H.R. 1585, the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act, passed the House on a 433
to three vote; and on August 13, 1997, President Clinton signed this
legislation into law. By May 9, 1998, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled
the new 40 cent stamp, and August 9 the stamp officially went on sale
to the public.
The legislation we are considering today, H.R. 1385, reauthorizes the
breast cancer research stamp program through the year 2006. The stamp
marks the first time that some of the proceeds of stamp sales have gone
to fund research, and the awareness raised as a result of this historic
stamp designed to save lives continues to be priceless. As of December
of 2002, 421.3 million breast cancer research stamps have been sold
dating from July 29, 1998, raising almost $30 million for biomedical
breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and the
Department of Defense.
The Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program receives 30
percent of the moneys raised from stamp sales. Since the breast cancer
stamp was introduced, Department of Defense has received over $9
million from the stamp's sales, and the National Cancer Institute has
received $24 million.
The breast cancer stamp functions like a regular first-class stamp
and is purchased on a voluntary basis by the public. In 1997, when a
person purchased the breast cancer stamp, 32 cents would be used for
postage and the extra 8 cents from each stamp sold was turned over to
research programs run by the National Institutes of Health and the
Defense Department. Today, the stamp can be purchased for 45 cents.
The stamp is a line drawing of the Roman goddess Diana reaching back
to retrieve an arrow from her quiver, and the words, ``Fund the fight.
Find a cure,'' written across.

{time} 1415

The exact cause of breast cancer is not known; therefore it is
imperative that researchers continue to study the basic biology of
cancer.
Research proposals funded by the Breast Cancer Research Stamp look at
the basic biology of breast cancer, such as understanding the changes
in breast cells, including DNA and proteins in the cells that result in
the development of breast cancer. An increased understanding in cancer
cells could lead to the development of new drugs to prevent or treat
breast cancer.
Funding is directed to prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment
research projects. Studies examine the use of antibiotics to block
breast cancer cell growth, to observe tumor behavior to keep the cancer
from spreading, to explore immunotherapy and the potential to create a
vaccine to stimulate the human immune system to protect itself from
breast cancer, and search for alternatives to mammography for breast
cancer detection.
The program's success encouraged Congress to appropriate additional
funds to the Breast Cancer Research Program in subsequent years,
totaling over $1.6 billion through fiscal year 2004. To date, the
Breast Cancer Research Program supported awards in three categories:
Research, Research Resources, and Training Recruitment, as well as the
Innovator Award.
Projects are coordinated to specifically avoid duplication of
research between the Department of Defense on the one hand and the
National Institutes of Health on the other. Awards are meant to fill
gaps in ongoing research and to compliment initiatives sponsored by
other agencies. The Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research
Program has emphasized support for research and training awards that
encourage innovative approaches to breast cancer research to accomplish
the program's vision of eradicating breast cancer.
In addition to research, the Department of Defense Breast Cancer
Research Program has sponsored three Era of Hope meetings to publicly
present results of DOD funded studies and provide researchers with the
opportunity to share their results with the scientific community, with
policymakers, and with the lay public. The most recent meeting, in
2003, was held in Orlando, Florida, with over 1,500 scientists,
clinicians, and breast cancer survivors and advocates in attendance.
A National Cancer Institute report estimates that about one in eight
women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her
lifetime. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, accounting
for 30 percent of all cancers in women. In 2004, more than 40,000
individuals are projected to die from breast cancer. In 2003, the
American Cancer Society estimated 21,100 new cases of breast cancer
will be diagnosed among women in my home State of California and, of
these, 4,000 women will die from this disease.
An individual's breast cancer risk depends on a variety of factors,
including family history, reproductive history, life-style factors such
as heavy alcohol consumption and smoking, and a number of other factors
that are not yet understood. A woman's risk for developing breast
cancer increases if her mother, her sister, her daughter, or two or
more other close relatives, such as cousins, have a history of breast
cancer, especially at a young age. However, 85 percent of women who
develop breast cancer have no known family history of the disease.
Early detection and treatment is the key to survival. Declining death
rates caused by breast cancer are believed to be the result of early
detection and improved treatment. Breast cancer prevention experts
strongly encourage women of all ages to have regular mammograms and to
conduct breast self-examinations monthly.
When people choose to purchase the Breast Cancer Stamp every day,
they can turn that simple little act into a meaningful and effective
way to participate in the fight against breast cancer.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by thanking my friend, Dr.
Ernie Bodai, for his persistence in this fight against breast cancer.
Driving through Sacramento, he can be easily spotted in his car, which
is adorned by its license plate PL 105-41, the public law number that
made the breast cancer fund-raising stamp official. It is in honor of
this man and to honor the lives of the victims of breast cancer that I
stand before my colleagues, supporting the reauthorization of H.R.
1385.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) for his
efforts towards stamping out breast cancer, and I urge all Members to
support the passage of H.R. 1385.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Committee on Government
Reform's Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight, I am pleased to
join my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) in
consideration of H.R. 1385 extending the issuance of the Breast Cancer
Semipostal Stamp through December 31, 2006. H.R. 1385, as amended, was
introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) on March 20,
2003, and has 145 cosponsors.
Semipostals are stamps sold with a surcharge above the cost of a
first-class postage stamp with the net surcharge amount going to a
designated cause. We owe our interest in semipostal stamps to Dr. Ernie
Bodai, Chief of Surgery at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in
Sacramento, California, and former Representative Vic Fazio. Dr. Bodai
first proposed the idea of a semipostal with the money raised going
towards breast cancer research. He took his idea to Representative
Fazio, and on May 7, 1996, Representative Fazio introduced the first
semipostal bill, H.R. 3401, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act.
Representative Fazio was joined in this effort by Senator Dianne
Feinstein of California when she introduced identical legislation in
the Senate.

[[Page H106]]

The following year, Representative Fazio joined Representative Susan
Molinari of New York in introducing H.R. 1585, Stamp Out Breast Cancer.
This bill was subsequently enacted into law, Public Law 105-41. The law
not only authorized a breast cancer research stamp for 2 years, it also
required the General Accounting Office to submit a report to Congress
that evaluated the effectiveness of the appropriateness of this method
of fund-raising. In its first report issued in 2000, GAO determined
that the semipostal statute was successful and an effective and
appropriate way to fund-raise.
By way of addressing the health issues raised by many of the
semipostal bills pending in Congress, the chairman and ranking members
of the former Subcommittee on the Postal Service, the gentleman from
New York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah)
introduced H.R. 4437, the Semipostal Authorization Act. This measure,
which became law, Public Law 106-253, provided the Postal Service with
discretionary authority to issue semipostals provided the revenue
raised goes to Federal agencies and is for medical research. Such
authority is similar to the discretion the Postal Service currently has
in deciding which commemorative stamps to issue.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among
women in our country. More than 2 million women have been diagnosed
with breast cancer and at least another 1 million are unaware that they
have it. Every year, nearly $7 billion is spent on breast cancer
treatment, all the more reason to support the issuance of a Breast
Cancer Semipostal Stamp.
Since its issuance in 1998, the Breast Cancer Stamp has raised over
$30 million for research. By law, the National Institutes of Health and
the Department of Defense are the recipients of the money and are
required to submit an annual report to Congress on the amount of funds
received, how the funds were spent, and accomplishments. The sale of
the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has done much to increase public
awareness of the disease and has allowed millions of people the
opportunity to participate directly in raising money for this much-
needed research.
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for his effort and cannot express
enough my support for his measure. I would also like to thank the
chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the ranking
member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), and the House
leadership, both Democrat and Republican, and the Senate for working to
ensure an additional source of research money for breast cancer.
I urge the swift adoption of H.R. 1385.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 5
minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca), who introduced
this important resolution.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Davis) for yielding me this time, and I thank the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for his support.
I rise in support of H.R. 1385, my bill to authorize the Breast
Cancer Research Stamp through the year 2006. I am proud to say that the
language in my original bill extending the stamp through the year 2005
was included in the omnibus and signed by the President last Friday.
This amendment will extend the stamp for 1 additional year, through the
year 2006.
It has been a long, hard fight to extend the Breast Cancer Research
Stamp. It is a fight I began when I was in the California assembly and
have continued to do so here in Congress.
But we would not be here today without the hard work of several
individuals. I want to thank Dr. Bodai for first asking me to introduce
this resolution urging Congress to extend its research stamp when I was
in the California State Assembly. It was Dr. Bodai who developed the
idea of a Breast Cancer Research Stamp, and it was through his crusade
and persistence that we have it here today. Had it not been for him
doing it in California, in Sacramento, it would not have happened.
I also want to thank Senator Feinstein and the gentleman from
California (Mr. Ose). And I know it was difficult for him to be here
this afternoon, because he and I were both on the Red-eye. He knew the
importance of this bill and what it means to many individuals, and I
want to thank him for his leadership and his hard work and what he has
done to make sure that the sunset on the research stamp is extended.
And for that, I compliment the gentleman for taking the time, on the
Red-eye, on this important issue to address this issue here today.
I introduced this bill last year for one reason, and that is to save
lives. All of us care about saving lives. This issue is more important
to me now. I recently learned from my son, Joe Baca, Jr., that his
wife's grandmother passed away from breast cancer. We will miss
Josefine Sanchez and many others who have died, but early detection and
prevention and research may have prevented this. By working together to
pass this important piece of legislation we can prevent such tragedies.
This year, more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with
breast cancer. More than 40,000 women and men will die from this
disease. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among
women in every major ethnic group in the United States. And I say every
ethnic group, not one, but all. It does not discriminate. Whether an
individual is white, black, Hispanic, or whatever race or ethnicity,
everyone is at risk. Early prevention and early detection is of the
utmost importance.
Breast cancer is still the number one cancer killer of women between
the ages of 15 to 54, between 15 to 54. The disease claims a woman's
life every 15 minutes in the United States. Imagine that, claiming the
life of a woman every 15 minutes. More than 2 million women are living
with breast cancer in America today, yet 1 million of them have not
been diagnosed. One million women have not been diagnosed. That is why
it is important to increase the funding for breast cancer research.
The Breast Cancer Research Stamp is among the most successful
commemorative stamps of all time, with 485 million stamps sold. I
repeat: 485 million stamps sold. The stamp program has generated over
$35 million for breast cancer research. It has been a critical ally in
generating the resources necessary to wage war on this terrible,
terrible disease.

{time} 1430

The stamp is a semipostal stamp that can be voluntarily purchased by
the public for only 45 cents. It is worth it to save a life. Eight
cents of each stamp sold goes to the National Institutes of Health and
the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.
Working with Dr. Bodhai, Senator Feinstein introduced the Breast
Cancer Research Stamp bill in 1998 to help support the fight against
breast cancer. I am also proud to say that California continues to lead
the way, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) for
starting it in Sacramento, along with Dr. Bodhai. It has contributed
over $3 million in research funds, or roughly 21 percent of the money
raised nationwide.
Today, I ask for Members' support for the Breast Cancer Research
Stamp, my bill, and all women and men who will benefit from the money
the stamp raises.
We have the support of 150 Members who have cosponsored my bill, and
countless organizations like the American Cancer Society, American
Medical Association, the Breast Cancer Fund, and the Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation.
By supporting reauthorization of this stamp, you are not only helping
research but you are helping to raise awareness and save future lives.
Think about it: the customer purchases a stamp, a carrier delivers
it, and a person receives it. That is three people who have seen the
message saying breast cancer needs to be stamped out. Each time we use
the stamp, not only do we raise additional funds for research; we send
a message of hope to many men and women who have this terrible disease.
We need to find a cure, and we will find a cure. With Members'
continued support of this legislation, we will do that.
Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H107]]

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding me this time and for being here for what I believe is an
enormously important commitment to saving lives.
I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) for the commitment
he has shown, as stated in the gentleman's opening statement, and for
offering this legislation, to do something that is more than honorable,
that is, to save lives. My hat is off to the gentleman, and I stand
here as a very proud cosponsor of this legislation for what it means to
those who are fighting every day against this devastating disease.
Needless to say, there is not one of us, 435 in this body and
certainly 100 Senators, who has not been confronted by family members
and by those who are experiencing the devastation of breast cancer.
Certainly there are many of us who have lost loved ones. Breast cancer
is a devastating disease, and it has been stood up to by the women of
America. This particular semipostal legislation, which allows for
research dollars to come, is imperative that it be continued. And the
reason is midway, otherwise, in the middle of very serious research, we
would wind up having to stop that research because of the fact that
resources are no longer there.
I certainly want to acknowledge Ethel Kesler, who helped design this
stamp, and Whitney Sherman as well; and I want to make it very clear
that we appreciate the senior Senator from California's initial
leadership. Let me make note of the fact that cancer makes an impact on
every single ethnic group in America.
Mr. Speaker, 2 million are living with breast cancer in America
today, but yet 1 million have not been diagnosed. Breast cancer
incidence in women has increased from one in 20 in 1960 to one in 8.
Breast cancer is still the number one cancer killer of women between
the ages of 15 and 54. The disease claims another woman's life every 15
minutes.
I want to emphasize there are major local community groups working on
this issue. I have worked with Sisters Network in Houston, Texas. They
are an outreach group that goes to inner city residences to encourage
women to be tested for breast cancer. One of the worse parts of this
disease is it is a silent killer. If women do not get a mammogram, and
I remember some fights years ago, and the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Eshoo) remembers this as well, where there were no benefits to
allow poor women to go forward and have mammograms. There was a debate
whether it be covered or not. I appreciate the Women's Caucus and this
body fighting very hard to involve and make everyone conscious of the
fact that all women should be able to have access to mammograms.
Sisters Network in Houston, Texas, and they have chapters around the
country, is a minority-based, African American-based organization that
particularly reaches out to our community for those who may be
intimidated by the medical system or are not covered by health
insurance. I remember going door to door with packets of information,
reaching out to both Hispanic and African American women to encourage
them to seek mammograms.
This is an important legislative initiative; and although it may be
on a very cold and stormy day in Washington, D.C., there is a glimmer
of sunlight that this legislation be reauthorized so researchers on the
front line of saving lives will have an opportunity to do so.
As I close, let me thank all of the survivors who are living with
cancer or who have survived breast cancer. I thank them for their
steadfastness and courage. They are a shining example to others,
ensuring others might live. Again, I add my appreciation to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Baca), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Davis), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) for their
enthusiastic support, as well as the chairman and ranking member of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mr. Speaker, I an pleased to be here today in support of the Breast
Cancer Research Stamp. The Breast Cancer Research Stamp was first
introduced in 1998 by Senator Dianne Feinstein to help support the
fight against breast cancer.
It is among the most successful commemorative stamps of all time with
485 million stamps sold. The stamp program has generated in excess of
$35 million for breast cancer research.
The idea for the stamp was developed in California by Sacramento
oncologist, Dr. Ernie Bodai. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of
Bethesda, MD, and illustrated by Whitney Sherman of Baltimore, MD. The
stamp is a ``semi-postal'' stamp that can be voluntarily purchased by
the public for 45 cents with 8 cents benefiting the National Institute
for Health and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research
Program. If the sunset on the stamp had not been extended, many
important research projects would have gone unfunded, hurting the fight
against breast cancer. The stamp was set to expire on December 31,
2003.
This initiative is so important because of the devastating effects of
Breast Cancer. Breast cancer is considered the most commonly diagnosed
cancer among women in every major ethnic group in the United States.
More than 2 million women are living with breast cancer in America
today, yet one million of them have not been diagnosed. Breast cancer
incidence in women has increased from one in 20 in 1960 to one in eight
today. Breast cancer is still the number one cancer killer of women
between the ages of 15 and 54. The disease claims another woman's life
every 15 minutes in the United States.
This year, more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with
breast cancer and more than 40,000 women and men will die from breast
cancer. It is tragic that one woman in eight either has or will develop
breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 1,600 men will be diagnosed
with breast cancer and 400 will die this year.
In my state of Texas alone, in 2002, there were 12,819 new cases of
breast cancer and an estimated 800 deaths. In Texas, African Americans
are more likely to develop cancer and more likely to die from the
disease.
At this time there are slightly over 2 million women living in the
U.S. who have been diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. Every
3 minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer.
As introduced, H.R. 1385 reauthorized the Breast Cancer Research
Stamp for two years, through 2005. The language from H.R. 1385 was
included in the Omnibus by Senator Feinstein and became law on January
23, 2004. As amended, H.R. 1385 will extend the reauthorization for one
additional year, through 2006.
I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this legislation and urge my
colleagues to realize the significance of this bill and what we can do
to fight this battle together.
Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo).
Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and I thank the
gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) for this legislation. It is an
important piece of legislation, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of it.
This is the first fund-raising stamp in the United States, and it
benefits the eradication of breast cancer. During the holidays at home
wherever I was, whether it was a holiday party, in the grocery store,
wherever I was, there was someone that came up to me and said I went to
the post office to buy the breast cancer stamp, and was told that it is
no longer available because Congress has not reauthorized it. People
know, and they have become attached to this effort and very supportive
of it for what it produces.
The stamp was introduced in 1998, and the profits are split between
the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense's
Health Research Division, as called for by Congress. Over 450 million
of these 45 cent stamps have been sold. I am very proud to say that of
the $35 million raised, California continues to lead the way because we
have contributed roughly 21 percent of the money that has been raised
nationwide.
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues have expressed our collective concerns
about the issue of breast cancer. Certainly during my tenure in the
Congress I have been very proud to have worked on the causes of breast
cancer, for the optimal treatments for breast cancer, and ultimately a
cure for breast cancer. These have all been priorities of mine.
I see that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) is here on

[[Page H108]]

the floor. We worked very hard together to pass the Breast and Cervical
Cancer Treatment Act, which was introduced and passed in the 106th
Congress. As one of my colleagues said, more than 2 million women in
America are living with breast cancer today. During the time that we
have been on the floor and making comments on this, three women in the
United States have died as a result of breast cancer. The statistics we
still carry with us. I think this is an important effort, and I thank
everyone who is a part of this effort and urge all of my colleagues to
vote for this measure and make it unanimous so we send a message out to
Americans who have gone to their post office and not found this stamp
available that Congress has reauthorized it.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would indicate that California is leading the way on
this issue, and the rest of us are very pleased to follow their
example. I urge swift passage of this bill.
Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, according to the National Cancer Institute,
1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. I rise today in
support of H.R. 1385, the Breast Cancer Research Postal Stamp because I
believe that number is unacceptable.
Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer among women in the
United States with incidents on the rise. In my home State of New
Jersey over 6,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year and
tragically, approximately 1,500 women died from this terrible disease.
I support and cosponsored H.R. 1385 because it is about changing those
statistics, it is about hope.
In December of 2003, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp expired, and
today we have an opportunity and a responsibility to renew it.
Approximately 500 million copies of this special Breast Cancer Research
Stamp have been sold, raising about $40 million for the National
Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer
Research Program. These are programs that help more women get screened,
help more breast cancer cases to be detected and detected early, and
help more women get the treatment that allows them to survive.
There is another very positive aspect of the Breast Cancer Research
Stamp--it raises awareness. Each time the stamp passes hands as a
letter goes from sender to recipient, another person becomes aware;
another man grows concerned and reminds his wife to get a mammogram,
another woman schedules a check-up with her doctor, and another mother
teaches her daughter about breast self exams.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today because ``breast cancer needs to be stamped
out!'' I strongly hope that my colleagues will stand with me and
reauthorize the Breast Cancer Research Stamp.
Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of reauthorizing
the Breast Research Stamp Act (H.R. 1385). The public has widely
supported the stamp, and their voluntary purchases have generated over
$35 million dollars for breast cancer research. The National Institutes
of Health and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program
use this donation to help the 2 million women nationwide who are daily
battling this disease.
The Breast Cancer Research Stamp was developed by Dr. Ernie Bodai,
designed by Ethel Kessler, and introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein
in 1998. Since its introduction, over 485 million stamps have been sold
with 8 cents of each purchase price going toward breast research. The
stamp expired December 31, 2003 and there has been overwhelming support
to extend the stamp's production through 2006. Congressman Joe Baca
proposed the stamp's extension with 148 cosponsors and numerous groups
including the American Cancer Society and the American Medical
Association supporting H.R. 1385.
The revenue created by the sale of this stamp will help fight the
most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, and it will be used to
educate women and encourage early detection practices in Texas and
across the country. The Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF) is a San
Antonio based organization that supports awareness, treatment, and
counsels those receiving cancer treatments. In Texas alone, 13,700
women will be diagnosed and 2,600 lives will be lost to this disease in
the coming year. In the entire country, 40,000 people a year will die
from breast cancer.
Mr. Speaker, breast cancer will touch 1 out of every 8 women in
America. This statistic is far too high and includes mothers,
grandmothers, college students, and their loved ones. I urge my fellow
Representatives to support the Breast Research Stamp Act and to
continue to present the public with a simple method to donate to a
worthy cause.
Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1385, the
reauthorization of the Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp.
As a co-sponsor of H.R. 1835, I believe this bill is critical to
continue to fund research for a disease that affects 2 million women in
the United States alone. The Breast Cancer Research stamp was
introduced in July 1998 and has raised $35 million in five years for
the Department of Defense and the National Cancer Institute for
research in treating breast cancer. Of those funds raised, $279,000 has
gone to the University of Arkansas for research.
Breast Cancer is the leading cancer afflicting American women, and
this year nearly 40,110 women will die of breast cancer, and over
215,000 new cases will be diagnosed. Unfortunately, many of these cases
will not be diagnosed, and deaths will occur, in communities where
access to advanced medicine is limited.
Congress's commitment to increasing the funding for cancer prevention
and early detection is helping us battle this disease. Today we can be
proud of the advancements we have made. But we must continue our
commitment to defeating breast cancer by continuing to fund the
research necessary to fight breast cancer.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1385 to
extend the provision of title 39, United States Code, under which the
United States Postal Service is authorized to issue a special postage
stamp to benefit breast cancer research. I want to thank Mr. Baca for
his support in introducing this legislation.
The Breast Cancer Research stamp has been a successful tool to raise
funds to support research and programs to aid in the fight against
breast cancer. Despite the extra cost added to purchase the first class
stamps and three postage rate increases since its debut in 1998, the
Breast Cancer Research stamp has brought in over $35 million for
innovative research, prevention and treatment programs and other
initiatives at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of
Defense.
There are hundreds of thousands of women fighting breast cancer and
over 200,000 new cases that will be diagnosed this year. The funds
raised by the Breast Cancer Research stamp provide hope to the victims
and their families. More importantly, it symbolizes our commitment to
eliminating this devastating disease.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1385. Let us continue this
successful program in the hopes that one day there will be success in
finding a cure.
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of
H.R. 1385, legislation which would allow the United States Postal
Service to continue its successful breast cancer semipostal stamp.
Proceeds from this stamp directly benefit breast cancer research.
Breast cancer is a serious concern for all of us. We all have
friends, family members, constituents and colleagues who have battled
this serious disease. Breast cancer does not discriminate--Americans of
every age, race, religion, gender, economic standing and political
affiliation are affected by this disease.
The figures are alarming. An estimated three million women in the
U.S. are living with breast cancer--one-third of whom do not know they
have this deadly disease. It is the most common form of cancer in
America, excluding skin cancers. More than 240,000 new cases--1 every 3
minutes--occur in the United States each year. More than 40,000 women
will die from the disease.
One of our strongest weapons against breast cancer is early awareness
and treatment. Women who are screened and diagnosed early can begin
treatment before the disease becomes more advanced. That is why raising
awareness of the disease is so critical.
The breast cancer stamp has clearly helped to raise awareness and
funds for this serious disease. Since it was first created in 1998,
more than 421 million stamps sold, raising $29.5 million for biomedical
breast cancer research. The alarming rate at which breast cancer is
detected mandates that we continue to work toward a cure for this
disease which is claiming so many lives worldwide. Enactment of H.R.
1385 will further enable research in an effort to increase the survival
rate.
This disease calls for each of us to take a stand in an effort to
find a cure and bring some solace to a disease that has tormented our
mothers, wives, aunts, sisters and daughters. The importance of this
stamp has immeasurable value and I strongly support enactment of this
important legislation.
I encourage my colleagues to join the 145 cosponsors of this bill by
passing H.R. 1385.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I join the gentleman in complimenting the
gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) for introducing this legislation,
and I urge all Members to support its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H109]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1385, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.

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