[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 4, 2011

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to recognize 
October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Sadly, every 
two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most 
commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. I extend my prayers to 
the women and families affected by this disease, and my appreciation to 
the advocates at Susan G. Komen working tirelessly on their behalf.
  The 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States 
today are a testament both to courage, and the necessity to promote 
awareness for breast cancer, following recommended screening 
guidelines, offering treatment to those affected, and continuing to 
fund ground-breaking research. Early detection affords women the best 
chance of fighting this disease and we must understand the importance 
of regular mammograms and following recommended screening guidelines.
  This October, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has launched the Promise 
Action campaign to increase breast cancer screening rates. Today Komen 
is the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against 
breast cancer in the world, but the organization started with a 
sister's promise to end the disease her dying sister was fighting. 
Breast cancer touches far too many families in my community and across 
the nation. We are all indebted to the Komen affiliates fighting every 
minute of every day for a world without breast cancer.
  As a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, I know it 
is essential to do all we can in Congress to ensure breast cancer 
research is adequately funded. This is why I have introduced 
legislation that would reauthorize the sale of a special-rate U.S. 
postage stamp, with proceeds from the stamp funding breast cancer 
research. In 2007, Senator Diane Feinstein and I introduced legislation 
that was signed into public law by the President which reauthorized the 
stamp through this year. The Breast Cancer stamp has been highly 
successful in both raising tens of millions of dollars for important 
research, and raising public awareness of the ongoing need to fight a 
disease that affects millions of American women and their families.
  On behalf of my wife, Barbara, and my children, we bestow our 
thoughts and prayers to those women and their families suffering from 
breast cancer. As we recognize October as NBCAM, we stand by all those 
affected by this disease. I will continue to work to raise greater 
awareness and promote new funding for research into breast cancer. I am 
hopeful that my colleagues, organizations like Komen, and families 
across the nation can come together to fight this disease. God bless 
the mothers, sisters, and daughters battling this disease, and their 
families for their love and support.

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