[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 139 (Thursday, October 27, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H9330-H9331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       EXTENDING SPECIAL POSTAGE STAMP FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
Government Reform, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the 
Committee on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of 
the Senate bill (S. 37) to extend the special postage stamp for breast 
cancer research for 2 years, and ask for its immediate consideration in 
the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill as follows:

                                 S. 37

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

     SECTION 1. 2-YEAR EXTENSION OF POSTAGE STAMP FOR BREAST 
                   CANCER RESEARCH.

       Section 414(h) of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``2005'' and inserting ``2007''.

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, S. 37, authored by Senator 
Feinstein of California, extends the special postage stamp for breast 
cancer research for 2 years.
  Eight years ago, the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act established the 
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Program and directed the U.S. Postal 
Service to issue a new breast cancer stamp with proceeds benefiting 
breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and the 
Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Programs. The first semi 
postal stamp in U.S. history, it has raised nearly 44 million dollars 
for biomedical breast cancer research.
  The legislation we are considering today reauthorizes the breast 
cancer research stamp program through the year 2007. The stamp marks 
the first time that a portion of the proceeds of stamp sales have gone 
to fund research. Funding is directed to prevention, detection, 
diagnosis arid treatment research projects.
  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. When people choose to purchase 
the Breast Cancer Stamp, they turn that simple little act into a 
meaningful and effective way to participate in the fight against breast 
cancer.
  Finally Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, 
I would like to thank Chairman Joe Barton of the Commerce Committee and 
Chairman Duncan Hunter of the Armed Services Committee, whose 
committees' share jurisdiction with the Government Reform Committee 
over this program for their support and for agreeing to expedite the 
consideration of this bill.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House 
Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in the 
consideration of S. 37, legislation extending the special postage stamp 
for breast cancer research for 2 years. This measure, which was 
sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein, was introduced on January 24, 
2005, and unanimously passed by the Senate on September 27, 2005. On 
October 20, 2005, the Government Reform Committee unanimously reported 
S. 37.
  The Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act, (Public Law 105-41) authorized a 
special Semi-postal stamp for first-class mail. The price of this class 
stamp is 45 cents, 8 cents above the regular rate of 37 cents. The 
authority to issue this stamp expires on December 31, 2005. S. 37, 
which was cosponsored by 69 members of the U.S. Senate would extend the 
program until December 31, 2007.
  Sale of the Breast Cancer Semi-Postal stamp, first issued in 1998, 
has raised more than $44 million for breast cancer research from more 
than 650.5 million stamps. By law, 70 percent of the net amount raised 
is given to the National Institutes of Health, and 30 percent to the 
Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense.
  We owe our interest in semipostal stamps to Dr. Ernie Bodhai, chief 
of surgery at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Sacramento, 
California, and former Representative Vic Fazio. Dr. Bodhai took his 
idea for a special breast cancer research fundraising stamp to Rep. 
Fazio, and in 1996, Rep. Fazio introduced the first semipostal bill, 
H.R. 3401, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act. He was subsequently 
joined in this effort by Senator Feinstein when she introduced 
identical legislation in the Senate the same year.
  The following year, Representative Fazio and former Representative 
Susan Molinari sponsored H.R. 1585, Stamp Out Breast Cancer. This

[[Page H9331]]

bill, which was subsequently enacted into law, authorized a breast 
cancer research stamp for two years and required the General 
Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate the effectiveness and 
appropriateness of this method of raising funds. In 2000, GAO 
determined that the semipostal stamp was indeed successful and an 
effective and appropriate way to fundraise. The GAO also determined 
that the Postal Service do more to recover its costs associated with 
the breast cancer research stamp program.
  To address health issues raised by semipostal legislation pending in 
Congress, Representatives John McHugh and Chaka Fattah, introduced H.R. 
4437, the Semipostal Authorization Act. This act, which became law (PL 
106-253) provided the Postal Service with discretionary authority to 
issue semipostal stamps, provided the revenue raised goes to federal 
agencies and is for medical research. This authority is similar to the 
discretion the Postal Service currently has in determining which 
commemorative stamps to approve and issue.
  Mr. Speaker, every two minutes, a woman in the U.S. is diagnosed with 
breast cancer. And, excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the 
most common cancer among women. This year, it is estimated that about 
212,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, along 
with 58,000 new cases of non-invasive breast dancer. And, 40,000 women 
are expected to die from this disease.
  It must be noted, that men get breast cancer too. According to the 
American Cancer Society, about 1200 new cases of breast cancer are 
diagnosed in American men each year.
  Breast cancer is the leading cancer among white and African-American 
women. However, African-American women are more likely to die from this 
disease. And the incidence of breast cancer in women has increased from 
1 in 20 in 1960 to 1 in 7 today.
  Annually, nearly $7 billion is spent on the treatment of breast 
cancer. All the more reason to support the Breast Cancer Semipostal 
Stamp. Through the sale of this stamp, we are able to raise awareness 
of this disease and participate directly in raising money for needed 
research.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Tom Davis and Ranking 
Member Henry Waxman, as well as the chairmen and ranking members of the 
House Energy and Commerce and Armed Services Committees for moving 
quickly to get S. 37 to the House floor. It is wonderful to be able to 
approve this bill now, given that October is designated as ``Breast 
Cancer Awareness Month.''
  I urge the swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 37, Senator 
Feinstein's companion bill to my H.R. 312. This bill authorities the 
Breast Cancer Research Stamp through 2007. Without this legislation, 
this successful program would end this year.
  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As it comes to a close it 
is important to reflect on what is being done in the way of prevention 
and treatment of breast cancer.
  Senator Feinstein and I have proposed to extend the deadline of the 
Breast Cancer Research Stamp, so that it will be available for purchase 
for two more years.
  Senator Feinstein and I have been collaborating to bring awareness to 
this ever-present disease and to help doctors and scientists fighting 
against it. I want to thank her for her unwavering dedication.
  I also want to thank Dr. Ernie Bodhai, who developed the idea of the 
Breast Cancer Research Stamp and who has brought national awareness to 
the measure.
  Dr. Bodhai inspired me to help support the Breast Cancer Research 
Stamp back when I served in the California State Assembly.
  Senator Feinstein and I introduced this bill for one reason: to save 
lives.
  We have worked together to pass this important bill so researchers 
can gain more insight on the disease and in turn, prevent tragedies.
  This year more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with 
breast cancer. More than 40,000 Americans will die from the disease 
this year.
  Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in 
every major ethnic group in the United States.
  It does not discriminate. Whether you are white, black, Hispanic or 
whatever your race or ethnicity. Everyone is at risk.
  More than two million women are living with breast cancer in America 
today, yet one million of them have not been diagnosed.
  Breast cancer is a leading killer of American women. The disease 
claims another woman's life every 13 minutes in the United States.
  That is why it is so important to increase funding for breast cancer 
research--and why we must continue sales of the stamp.
  The Breast Cancer Research Stamp is among the most successful 
commemorative stamps of all time with 637 million stamps sold.
  The stamp program has generated over 47 million dollars for breast 
cancer research. It has been a critical ally in generating the 
resources necessary to wage war on this terrible disease.
  The stamp is a ``semi-postal'' stamp that can be voluntarily 
purchased by the public for 45 cents.
  For each stamp sold, 8 cents 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 proud that Californians continue to lead the way in stamp 
purchases, providing roughly 21 percent of the money raised nationwide.
  I ask my colleagues to support the Breast Cancer Research Stamp and 
all the women and men who will benefit from the money the stamp raises.
  Senator Feinstein and I have the support of 153 Members of Congress 
and 69 Senators who cosponsored the bills and of countless 
organizations like the American Cancer Society, the American Medical 
Association, the Breast Cancer Fund, WIN Against Breast Cancer, and the 
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
  By supporting reauthorization of this stamp, you are not only helping 
research but you are also helping to raise awareness.
  Think about it! A customer purchases the 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 we raise additional funds for research and 
we send a message of hope that we will find a cure.
  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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