[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 136 (Monday, October 24, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S11765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, this month we observe National Breast 
Cancer Awareness Month, and reflect on a disease that has touched 
countless American lives. There are more than 3 million women living 
with breast cancer in the United States and tens of thousands of women 
die from breast cancer each year. Breast cancer is now the second 
leading cause of cancer deaths in American women. While important 
advances have been made, the causes of this disease and the means to 
prevent it are still unknown.
  Scientific evidence about what aspects of the environment play a role 
in the initiation and development of breast cancer also remains scarce. 
Although it is generally believed that there is a correlation between 
environmental factors and the prevalence of breast cancer, the extent 
of the environment's role is not well understood. Given the clear need 
to explore the potential relationship between the environment and 
breast cancer, I have introduced S. 757, the Breast Cancer and 
Environmental Research Act. This bill would authorize $30 million per 
year for 5 years for the National Institute of Environmental Health 
Sciences, NIEHS, to award grants to study the relationship between 
environmental factors and breast cancer. Under a competitive, peer-
reviewed grant making process, the Director of NIEHS would award grants 
for the development and operation of up to eight centers for the 
purpose of conducting multidisciplinary research. The bill would seek 
to foster community collaboration between the research centers, 
patients, and the patient advocacy organizations.
  The targeted research proposed in S. 757 holds the promise for a 
better understanding of the causes of breast cancer, breakthroughs in 
prevention and treatment, and ultimately a cure. For this reason, I 
urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring S. 757 so that we may 
work together toward Senate passage this year.

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