[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E879-E880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUPPORT FOR H.R. 2231

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TAMMY BALDWIN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2006

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2231, the 
Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, and I ask my colleagues 
to work with me to pass this important legislation.
  Last Sunday was Mother's Day, and in honor of all mothers, I rise 
today to stand with the National Breast Cancer Coalition and the 3 
million American women living with breast cancer today to urge all my 
colleagues to push for passage of the Breast Cancer and Environmental 
Research Act--H.R. 2231. Too many mothers, daughters, wives, and 
sisters are dying from breast cancer. We will not end this disease 
until we find out what causes it.
  It is generally believed that the environment plays some role in the 
development of breast cancer, but the extent of that role is not 
understood. Less than 30 percent of breast cancers are explained by 
known risk factors. However, there is little consensus in the 
scientific community on how the environment impacts breast cancer. 
Studies have explored the effect of isolated environmental factors such 
as diet, pesticides, and electromagnetic fields, but in most cases 
there is no conclusive evidence. Furthermore, there are many other 
factors that are suspected to play a role but have not been fully 
studied.
  Clearly, more research needs to be done to determine the relationship 
between the environment and breast cancer. What is needed is a 
collaborative, comprehensive, national strategy to study these issues. 
H.R. 2231 makes that strategy possible.

[[Page E880]]

  This bill would create a new mechanism for environmental health 
research. It would establish up to eight research centers to study 
environmental factors and their impact on breast cancer. Modeled after 
the successful Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, it 
would include consumer advocates in the peer review and programmatic 
review process.
  This Federal commitment is critical for the overall, national 
strategy and the long-term research investments needed to discover 
potential environmental causes of breast cancer, so that we can prevent 
it, treat it more effectively, and cure it.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 2231, and I urge my 
colleagues to work with me to pass this bill this year.