Senate Approves Bill to Reauthorize Highly Successful Breast Cancer Stamp for Two More Years
July 27, 2000

Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate late last night unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to reauthorize the Breast Cancer Research Stamp for another two years.

The measure, cosponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas), was approved by the House of Representatives on July 17 and will be signed into law by President Clinton in the coming days. As a result of legislation Senator Feinstein authored in 1997, the stamp is the first in U.S. history dedicated to raising funds for a special cause and has raised over $15 million nationally in research funds for the disease.

“I am extremely pleased that the Breast Cancer Stamp has been reauthorized for two more years,” Senator Feinstein said. “This historic stamp has been a rousing success as millions of Americans have contributed to this special cause. Each time we use the stamp -- not only do we raise additional funds for research -- we send a message of hope that we will find a cure.”

The legislation would permit the sale of the stamp for an additional two years. The stamp would continue to be priced up to 25% above the value of a first-class stamp with the surplus revenues going to breast cancer research programs at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense. The stamp currently costs 40 cents, with 7 cents devoted to research. Under the bill, the U.S. Postal Service would be granted authority to determine which specific causes merit future semipostal stamps.

“California continues to lead the way as we have contributed $3.15 million in research funds, or roughly 21% of the money raised nationwide,” Senator Feinstein said. “The bottom line is that every dollar we continue to raise will save lives.”

In April, the General Accounting 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 boost funds to fight the disease. The General Accounting Office said in the report, “On the basis of the collective results of all the measures we used to evaluate effectiveness, we believe the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has been an effective fund-raiser.” The report also goes on to assert that “the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has been successful.”

Breast cancer is considered the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in every major ethnic group in the United States. More than two million women are living with breast cancer in America today, yet one million of them have not been diagnosed. Today, breast cancer is still the number one cancer killer of women between the ages of 15 and 54. The disease claims another woman’s life every 15 minutes in the United States.

More and more people today are becoming cancer survivors rather than cancer victims thanks to breakthroughs in cancer research. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, eight million people are alive today as a result of cancer research.

“I would especially like to thank all the Breast Cancer research advocates who have fought so tirelessly for this stamp, especially Dr. Ernie Bodai and Betsy Mullen of WIN Against Breast Cancer, who has been indefatigable in the last few weeks in lobbying for this important stamp.”

The legislation is supported by numerous organizations, including: the American Cancer Society; American Medical Association; American Association of Health Plans; Breast Cancer Fund; Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; American Cancer League; American College of Surgeons; American College of Radiology; Community Breast Health Project; California Nurses Association; CureBreast Cancer Inc.; Emergency Nurses Association; Friends of Cancer Research; National Association for Women’s Health; Women’s Information Network – Against Breast Cancer (WINABC); Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.