[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.

                          ____________________