[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                BREAST CANCER ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 19, 2006

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I recently met a young woman, a constituent, 
visiting Washington on behalf of the Los Angeles Breast Cancer 
Coalition. Stefanie LaRue, of Marina del Rey, was recently diagnosed 
with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. This is the most advanced stage 
of the disease, where the cancerous cells have spread beyond the breast 
and surrounding lymph nodes.
  Despite having just undergone treatment, Stefanie had come to 
Washington to tell me her story and to advocate for breast cancer 
research. She said to me, ``I just want to do my best to be a voice for 
women with breast cancer.'' Her inner strength and grace in the face of 
a very difficult battle are an inspiration, and a reminder of the 
resilience of the human spirit. I deeply admire her courage, and the 
way she fearlessly allowed the world to see her beautiful hairless 
head!
  Stefanie is one of 200,000 American women diagnosed with invasive 
breast cancer each year. What is particularly troubling about her case 
is that she is only 31 years old. She has no family history of breast 
cancer. She is a vibrant young woman whose lifestyle prior to the onset 
of the disease was the embodiment of good health.
  We know that certain lifestyles and hereditary factors contribute to 
the onset of breast cancer. But there is also troubling evidence that 
environmental factors, such as exposure to certain toxins, may affect a 
woman's chances of developing the disease. Common pesticides, widely 
accepted agricultural methods, and even chemicals in everyday household 
items may contribute to breast cancer. We need to understand these 
linkages better.
  Understanding the causes of the disease is a critical step toward 
developing strategies for prevention, and ultimately, a cure. That's 
why it is so critical that the House pass H.R. 2231, the Breast Cancer 
and Environmental Research Act. The legislation, which was introduced 
by my colleagues Nita Lowey and Sue Myrick, will make grants to 
research the effects of environmental factors on the incidence of 
breast cancer.
  After decades of research, there is still no known cause, prevention 
or cure for breast cancer. Every year, over 40,000 women die of the 
disease. Congress must do what it can to prevent more women from 
becoming a statistic. I urge my colleagues to pass the Breast Cancer 
Environmental Research Act.

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