U.S. Congress Approves Continuation of Historic Breast
Cancer Research Stamp for Another Two Years
November 5, 2001

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Congress Senate late last week approved legislation offered by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) to extend the life of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp through December 31, 2003.

"Virtually everywhere I travel, people tell me they buy these beautiful stamps in the hopes of helping to find a cure for breast cancer," Senator Feinstein said. "This historic stamp has raised roughly $24 million dollars for research as more than 300 million stamps have been purchased -- that's more than one for every American."

The legislation was included as part of the Fiscal Year 2002 Treasury-Postal Appropriations bill that was approved unanimously by the Senate last week. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the legislation earlier last week. If congressional action were not taken, the stamp would have expired next July.

The National Cancer Institute and the Department of Defense have used these funds to support novel and innovative research in the area of breast cancer. According to Dr. Richard Klausner, Director of the National Cancer Institute, these awards benefit "over a dozen critical areas of breast cancer research."

Today, breast cancer remains the leading cancer among women. In 2001, it is estimated that approximately 192,200 women will get breast cancer and 40,200 women will die from the disease. Approximately three million women in the U.S. are living with breast cancer, yet one million remain unaware of their condition.

"I continue to urge all Americans to purchase this stamp to attach to their cards and letters," Senator Feinstein said. "In doing so, you are helping to find a cure. Moreover, one cannot calculate in dollars or cents the value the stamp also plays in increasing the visibility of the disease and the need for additional research funding."

"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, They have been indefatigable advocates on behalf of this important stamp," said Feinstein.

"One stamp at a time and pennies at a time, the American people have come together to raise millions of dollars, awareness and hope to the all too many still searching for a cure to end this rampant disease that has become a blight on our nation," said Betsy Mullen, a San Diego native.

Since first going on sale in August 1998, 318 million Breast Cancer Research stamps have been sold.

Last year, 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."

The legislation, which had 85 cosponsors in the Senate and 208 cosponsors in the House of Representatives, 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.

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