[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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