[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 26 (Thursday, February 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mrs. Boxer, Ms. 
        Snowe, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Portman, Mr. Durbin, 
        Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Begich, Mr. Coons, 
        Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Burr, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
        Kerry, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Tester, Mr. Merkley, 
        Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Moran, Mr. Cochran, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Ensign, 
        Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, and Mr. Hatch):
  S. 384. A bill to amend title 39, United States Code, to extend the 
authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a semipostal to 
raise funds for breast cancer research; to the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Hutchison to 
introduce legislation to reauthorize the extraordinarily successful 
Breast Cancer Research Stamp for 4 additional years.
  Without Congressional action, this important stamp will expire on 
December 31 of this year.
  This stamp deserves to be extended as it has proven to be highly 
effective.
  Since 1998, over 907 million breast cancer research stamps have been 
sold--raising over $72 million for breast cancer research.
  Furthermore, in October 2007, the Government Accountability Office, 
GAO, released a report showing that the Breast Cancer Research Stamp 
has been a success and an effective fund-raiser in the effort to 
increase funds to fight the disease.
  The National Institutes of Health, NIH, and the Department of Defense 
have received approximately $50.4 million and $21.6 million, 
respectively, putting these research dollars to good use by funding 
innovative advances in breast cancer research.
  For example, in 2006, NIH began funding the Trial Assigning 
Individualized Options for Treatment Program, TAILORx, with proceeds 
from the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. The trial is designed to 
determine which patients with early stage breast cancer would be more 
likely to benefit from chemotherapy and, therefore, reduce the use of 
chemotherapy in those patients who are unlikely to benefit. The goal of 
TAILORx is to determine the most effective current approach to cancer 
treatment, with the fewest side effects, for women with early-stage 
breast cancer by using a validated diagnostic test.
  Thanks to breakthroughs in cancer research, more and more people are 
becoming cancer survivors rather than cancer victims. Every dollar we 
continue to raise will help save lives.
  One cannot calculate in dollars and cents how the stamp has focused 
public awareness on this terrible disease and the need for additional 
research funding.
  There is still so much more to do because this disease has far 
reaching effects on our Nation.
  Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among 
women after skin cancer.
  More than 2.5 million women in the U.S. are living with breast cancer 
today.
  Over 200,000 women have been diagnosed with cancer in each of the 
past few years, and will be diagnosed in the coming year.
  Though male breast cancer is much less common, 1,970 men were 
diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
  This legislation would extend the authorization of the Breast Cancer 
Research stamp for 4 additional years--until December 31, 2015.
  It also will allow the stamp to continue to have a surcharge above 
the value of a first-class stamp with the surplus revenues going to 
breast cancer research.
  It will not affect any other semi-postal proposals under 
consideration by the U.S. Postal Service.
  I urge my colleagues to join me and Senator Hutchison in passing this 
important legislation to extend the Breast Cancer Research Stamp for 
another 4 years.
  Until a cure is found, the money from the sale of this unique postal 
stamp will continue to focus public awareness on this devastating 
disease and provide hope to breast cancer survivors.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 384

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF POSTAGE STAMP FOR BREAST CANCER 
                   RESEARCH.

       Section 414(h) of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``2011'' and inserting ``2015''.
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