[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S10575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              BREAST CANCER AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH ACT

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about a disease that 
has touched many American families. Breast cancer is the second leading 
cause of cancer deaths among American women. More women are living with 
breast cancer than any other cancer.
  Three million women are living with breast cancer in the United 
States, 2 million of which have been diagnosed and 1 million who don't 
know they have the disease. Over 40,000 women will have died from 
breast cancer this year alone. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths 
among women between the ages of 20 and 59.
  What is the Senate doing about breast cancer? Some of you may know 
that I have a bill, S. 757, the Breast Cancer and Environmental 
Research Act. This bill was first introduced on March 23, 2000, in the 
106th Congress. Since that time, the bill has been introduced in the 
107th Congress, where it had 44 bipartisan cosponsors and was on the 
verge of being included in the Women's Health Act of 2002 when 
negotiations broke down. In the 108th Congress, the bill again had 
tremendous bipartisan support, with 60 cosponsors. But again we did not 
act on the bill, which brings me to the current situation in the 109th 
Congress.
  The bill now has 66 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate and 255 
cosponsors in the House. Thanks to the support and leadership of 
Chairman Michael Enzi of the HELP Committee, this bill was reported 
unanimously by the committee on July 24, 2006. The bill was hotlined 
for floor consideration before the August recess, but it has not 
received Senate passage.
  We as a Senate are denying millions of American women diagnosed with 
breast cancer the answers that might lead to a better understanding and 
perhaps a cure to this disease.
  How can a bill with 66 cosponsors that was reported unanimously by 
the HELP Committee not be taken up and approved by the Senate?
  This bill provides a targeted strategy and a long-term research 
investment needed to explore the links between the environment and 
breast cancer. Millions of women who are afflicted with breast cancer 
deserve the answers this legislation could yield.
  I urge my colleagues to work with me to remove any obstacles and 
secure passage of the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New York is recognized.

                          ____________________