[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 177 (Friday, November 18, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7874-S7875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF EVELYN H. LAUDER
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 335.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 335) honoring the life and legacy of
Evelyn H. Lauder.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of this
resolution, submitted with my colleagues, Senator Gillibrand and
Senator Feinstein, which honors the life and legacy of Evelyn Lauder.
Fittingly extolled by The New York Times as a ``Champion of Breast
Cancer Research,'' Evelyn will be long remembered by our Nation and
indeed the world for her profound and lasting leadership in combating
the dreaded scourge of breast cancer which Evelyn battled herself.
One of the great philanthropists of our time or any time, Evelyn
undeniably had the Midas touch as a superb business leader and
innovator during her more than 50 years at the Estee Lauder Companies,
where she had been initially persuaded by her mother-in-law, Mrs. Estee
Lauder, to join the family business.
And over the course of five decades, Evelyn became a driving impetus
behind some of the company's most monumental strides. Make no mistake,
any one of her myriad industry milestones alone would have secured
Evelyn's name in the constellation of stars in cosmetics, but truly
what set her apart time and again was the Midas heart she possessed
that reached millions, especially breast cancer survivors.
Evelyn was a rare visionary who not only conceived tremendous
endeavors, but also possessed the will, talent, and fortitude to bring
them to fruition. When the venerable Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center lacked a breast and diagnostic center, Evelyn undertook a
fundraising campaign to establish the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center
which opened its doors in 1992 and underwent an expansion in 2009.
When also in 1992 Evelyn saw a gap in breast cancer awareness, she
and Alexandra Penney, then editor of SELF magazine, developed the now
iconic and legendary Pink Ribbon Campaign which has become the
universal symbol for the battle against breast cancer.
When Evelyn recognized a lack of funding for breast cancer research,
she founded the landmark Breast Cancer Research Foundation which under
her aegis grew from providing research grant awards totaling $159,000
to fund eight researchers in 1994 to remarkably awarding $36.5 million
to 186 researchers this year. And this renowned foundation has since
become the largest national organization dedicated exclusively to
funding research relating to the causes, treatment, and prevention of
breast cancer.
And so, Mr. President, you can imagine the honor I felt upon being
named a Funding Hero by The Breast Cancer Research Foundation along
with then-Senator Hillary Clinton in 2004. And it is only fitting that
I have joined with then-Senator Clinton's successor, Senator
Gillibrand, in paying tribute to one of their legendary constituents
from the Empire State.
Evelyn Lauder was proof positive of Andrew Jackson's tenet that ``one
[[Page S7875]]
man''--or, I might add, a woman--``with courage makes a majority'' as
she helped to dramatically destigmatize and demystify the topic of
breast cancer, spurring more women to seek medical attention sooner and
improve their capacities to be their own best advocates. With
unsurpassed leadership, Evelyn helped fill the so-called ``funding
gap'' that scientists too often must confront between good and bold
ideas.
And I don't have to tell any of my colleagues here today, that means
enabling more promising scientists with innovative scientific proposals
to accelerate their research and findings rather than apply for federal
grants alone.
As I have remarked in the past, breast cancer doesn't wait to strike,
just as our best researchers shouldn't have to wait to begin the work
that just might lead to the goal we all seek a cure. Not only that, but
with more than 90 cents of every dollar going directly to research and
awareness, it seems to me Congress would do well to emulate the
Foundation's efficiency.
By increasing awareness, by funding research, by searching tirelessly
for a cure, Evelyn Lauder was a vital, public service catalyst in this
battle against breast cancer. Undoubtedly, Evelyn was not just a
difference-maker in this fight, but the consummate, indispensable game-
changer as well.
Surely, integral to Evelyn's long cavalcade of achievements will be
our continuous drive to make breast cancer history to move the needle
where 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point
in their lifetime to eradicating this disease for all time. As someone
who battled breast cancer herself, Evelyn understood better than anyone
the urgency of waging a full attack that was both relentless and
comprehensive.
Indeed, Evelyn through her foundation was crucial in contributing
dollars to the development of targeted therapies, such as Herceptin. As
a longtime, vigorous advocate of the DOD Breast Cancer Research
Program, which also contributed funding into the early research behind
Herceptin, I recognize how essential it is to have strong partners like
Evelyn complementing and amplifying our efforts in Congress.
Finally, no discussion about Evelyn Lauder is remotely complete
without paying tribute to the love of her life for well more than half
a century, her incredible husband Leonard Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of
the Estee Lauder Companies. Theirs was indeed a partnership in every
sense of the word their mutual regard and respect for one another could
not have been greater, and the joy they took in being in each other's
company could not have been more evident. Each was instrumental to the
success and trajectory of the other.
Evelyn's legacy was perhaps best crystallized in her response to an
interviewer's question about none other than her own critically-
acclaimed photography. Regarding her passion for being behind the
camera, Evelyn observed that ``you can't hold back time, but you can
look forward to what's coming next and do everything in your power to
create the best possible future.''
Suffice it to say, the lens through which Evelyn saw her camera's
subjects will forever be the lens through which we will remember
Evelyn, as she helped create the best possible future for millions of
breast cancer survivors around the world.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with her beloved Leonard and their
two sons, William and Gary. It's often been said that ``we make a
living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.'' Never have
the words rung more true than when associated with the incomparable,
selfless, trailblazer for good, Evelyn Lauder.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be
laid upon the table, there be no intervening action or debate, and any
related statements be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 335) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 335
Whereas with the passing of Evelyn H. Lauder, the world has
lost an energetic and dedicated friend and ally who
catapulted to the world stage the quest to prevent and cure
breast cancer in this lifetime;
Whereas Evelyn was born Evelyn Hausner on August 12, 1936,
in Vienna, Austria;
Whereas in 1940, the Hausner family fled Nazi-occupied
Austria, eventually settling in the State of New York, where
Eveyln was a proud product of the New York City public school
system and met her future husband of more than half a
century, Leonard Lauder;
Whereas Evelyn and Leonard wed in July 1959;
Whereas, Evelyn joined the family cosmetic company, Estee
Lauder, handling many roles in the early years and later
becoming Senior Corporate Vice President and Head of
Fragrance Development Worldwide;
Whereas Evelyn helped bring global awareness to breast
cancer after being diagnosed with early stages of the disease
in 1987;
Whereas in 1989, Evelyn initiated the fundraising drive to
establish the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Cancer Center at
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City,
which opened in 1992 and quickly became the model for similar
breast cancer diagnostic centers around the world;
Whereas the expanded Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Cancer Center
opened in 2009 and provides the most up-to-date breast cancer
prevention, diagnosis, and outpatient treatment services
under 1 roof;
Whereas in 1992, Evelyn worked with longtime friend
Alexandra Penney, former editor-in-chief of SELF magazine, to
create the Pink Ribbon Campaign for breast cancer;
Whereas Evelyn launched the Estee Lauder Companies' Breast
Cancer Awareness Campaign, which has distributed more than
115,000,000 pink ribbons worldwide;
Whereas in 1993, Evelyn founded The Breast Cancer Research
Foundation, thereby affirming her commitment to preventing
breast cancer and finding a cure in this lifetime through
funding some of the most innovative clinical and translation
research at leading medical centers worldwide;
Whereas The Breast Center Research Foundation, which to
date funds 186 researchers around the world and has raised
$350,000,000, has grown to become the largest national
organization dedicated exclusively to funding research
relating to the causes, treatment and prevention of breast
cancer;
Whereas during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October
2010, Evelyn and the Estee Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer
Awareness Campaign achieved a first-ever Guinness World
Record, ``Most Landmarks Illuminated for a Cause in 24
Hours'', by illuminating 38 iconic landmarks, including the
Taj Mahal, the Tokyo Tower, the Hotel Majestic, the Empire
State Building, and Niagara Falls;
Whereas in October 2011, the Lauder family was honored with
the prestigious Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy for commitment
to philanthropic endeavors and public service;
Whereas Evelyn will be remembered for her vision and
leadership in achieving funding for promising scientific
research that lead to breakthrough drugs, including Herceptin
and Avastin, a better understanding of how tumors develop and
risk factors for recurrence, and an improved quality of life
for breast cancer survivors;
Whereas her work continues to help promising scientists who
have equally promising, imaginative, and innovative proposals
get research off the ground;
Whereas there is no doubt that we must find a cure, and
research is instrumental to achieving this goal;
Whereas this year, nearly 40,000 women of the United States
are expected to die of breast cancer; and
Whereas we must keep up the battle and recruit more heroes
like Evelyn if we are to achieve ``prevention and a cure in
our lifetime'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) mourns the loss of Evelyn H. Lauder;
(2) honors the life and accomplishments of Evelyn H.
Lauder, a world renowned advocate for breast cancer awareness
and health of women; and
(3) offers the deepest condolences to the beloved husband,
Leonard, sons, William and Gary, and 5 grandchildren of
Evelyn H. Lauder.
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