[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 190 (Monday, December 12, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H8324-H8325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AUTHORITY ACT
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(S. 384) 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is 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''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Issa) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, Senate bill 384, introduced by Senator Dianne
Feinstein from the great State of California, would extend the
authority of the United States Postal Service to issue semipostal
stamps to raise funds for breast cancer research. The bill enjoys
cosponsorship on both sides of the aisle; 66 Senators have cosponsored
it, and my committee has voted it out unanimously. Senate bill 384 is
very simple yet important that we pass, and pass before the end of the
year. Senate bill 384 will allow the United States Postal Service to
continue to sell special postage stamps that generate funds used for
breast cancer research.
In 1997 President Clinton signed Public Law 105-41, known as the
Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act. The law authorizes the Postal Service to
sell, for the first time, a special semipostal stamp for first-class
mail. Under the law, the United States Postal Service sells this stamp
at a price that is above the standard first-class mail rate. Buyers
willingly buy this, knowing that this is helping stamp out breast
cancer.
After accounting for administrative costs, the Postal Service then
transfers surplus funds to the National Institutes of Health and the
Department of Defense for breast cancer research. Today the sale of
each 55 cent stamp generates 11 cents to go toward breast cancer
research. Since being offered to the public in 1998, nearly 925
million--that's right, 1 billion--of these stamps have been sold, and
over $74 million of proceeds have been transferred to the NIH and the
Department of Defense for breast cancer research.
I would like to thank my colleague, the ranking member of the full
committee, Mr. Cummings, and my colleague here today, Mr. Clay, for
championing this bill and its reauthorization. I would also like to
thank Senator Feinstein for her work in moving this bill in the other
Chamber in a timely fashion.
The authorization for this stamp expires on December 31. Mr. Speaker,
it is important that we act and act today if we are, in fact, going to
continue to help the more than 2.5 million women currently living with
breast cancer nationwide and the over 200,000 women diagnosed with this
disease each year in our country. The funds generated from this stamp
are greatly needed. Each dollar raised for research increases the
likelihood that more people will become cancer survivors rather than
cancer statistics.
I urge all of my colleagues to vote for the bill, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
{time} 1620
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and
I'm pleased to rise in support of S. 384, along with my chairman, Mr.
Issa of California, of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I
want to thank him for bringing this legislation to the floor.
This bill, S. 384, will extend the authority of the U.S. Postal
Service to issue the popular semipostal stamp that helps to raise funds
for breast cancer research. The measure before us, S. 384, is sponsored
by our Senate colleague, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and here in the
House, Representative Joe Baca, also from California, who introduced
the companion version of this legislation.
Cancer is one of the scourges of our society, and this is a truly
bipartisan bill that makes a huge difference in a cost-efficient
manner. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill
without reservation. This will allow the American people to continue
contributing to the fight against breast cancer and cancer in general
for another 4 years. I urge passage of this bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for S.
384, legislation that reauthorizes the semi-postal breast cancer
research stamp for four additional years.
I want to thank my friend, Senator Dianne Feinstein, for sponsoring
this bill.
I am proud to serve as lead sponsor on H.R. 466, the counterpart
legislation for S. 384, that was introduced here in the House of
Representatives.
The breast cancer research stamp has been of critical importance in
the battle against breast cancer--both in raising awareness of the
diseases, and raising tens of millions of dollars for important
research activities.
Since 1998, the U.S. Postal Service has sold over 903 million ``semi-
postal'' breast cancer research stamps.
The sale of these stamps has resulted in over $72 million being
raised that has gone directly to supporting breast cancer research at
the National Institute of Health.
[[Page H8325]]
If Congress does not act by the end of the year--the authorization to
sell the breast cancer research stamp will expire within a few short
weeks.
Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is considered the most commonly
diagnosed cancer among women nationwide.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 2.5 million women
in the United States are living with breast cancer today.
The research money raised by the breast cancer stamp makes a real and
immediate difference in the lives of women diagnosed with breast
cancer--and gives all of us hope that one day we can live in a world
without this devastating disease.
The awareness the stamp creates is also critical--as we continue to
stress the importance of preventative measures and early detection with
America's women.
I urge my colleagues to join me in reauthorizing the breast cancer
research stamp tor another four years, and vote ''yes'' on S. 384.
Let's stand with America's our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and
daughters--and vow to continue to work towards a world without breast
cancer.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 384.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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