FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               Contact: Renée Gaines
Thursday, July 26, 2001                                      (626) 332-2255

BREAST CANCER RESEARCH STAMP GIVEN HOPE FOR EXTENDED LIFE

 - Senators Feinstein and Hutchison introduce legislation joined by Senator Joe Lieberman and 71 additional co-sponsors in the Senate –

     LOS ANGELES, CA  – United States Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Betsy Mullen President/CEO of Women’s Information Network Against Breast Cancer (WIN ABC) once again are counting on Congress and the American public to save a first of its kind postage stamp designed to save lives.  The historic Breast Cancer Research Stamp has raised over $21 million to date to fund breast cancer research. The awareness raised as a result of this country’s first fundraising stamp continues to be priceless. These two individuals have worked diligently, alongside many others over the past four years, to ensure the continued success of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp that is slated to be discontinued in July 2002.   

     U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) today delivered a powerful dose of hope to save the special stamp when they introduced legislation to extend the life of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp for an additional 6 years.  Joining Senators Feinstein and Hutchison in a strong show of support, was Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs, a long-time champion of this special stamp and the cause that it represents.  An unprecedented 71 additional US Senators have co-sponsored the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001 in a strong show of bipartisan support to save the stamp designed to save lives which is slated to be taken off the market next year despite continued strong sales and millions of dollars raised for research. 

     “I am pleased to be a co-sponsor of this legislation which will extend the very successful Breast Cancer Research Stamp until 2008.  The United States Postal Service has sold over 310 million Breast Cancer Research Stamps in the past 3 years”, Senator Lieberman said.  “These sales have raised approximately $21 million for breast cancer research.  Moreover, the stamp has significantly contributed to public awareness about the disease.”

     “The Breast Cancer Research Stamp is just as necessary today as it was 3 years ago when Congress first authorized the stamp,” said Lieberman.  “An estimated 192,200 new invasive cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States this year alone and an estimated 40,600 deaths (40,200 women, 400 men) from breast cancer are expected in 2001.  However, thanks to breakthroughs in cancer research, more people are becoming cancer survivors.” 

     As the 3^rd anniversary for the stamp approached this week, the news had looked grim for the historic Breast Cancer Research Stamp’s survival until Senator Dianne Feinstein stepped in once again to spearhead efforts to keep the stamp going.  Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, another important ally in the fight against breast cancer, joined with Senator Feinstein to launch the important legislation today.  

     “Many Americans have given life to the Breast Cancer Research Stamp and the stamp has given hope to the all too many still searching for a cure to this rampant disease that has become a blight on our nation,” said Betsy Mullen of WIN Against Breast Cancer, herself a breast cancer survivor.  “The public support for this stamp has been unparalleled.  We urge swift passage through Congress and undiminished support from individuals and corporations throughout our country to ensure the stamp’s survival.  The United States Congress and the American people now represent the lifeline for this landmark stamp,” said Mullen.  “We encourage the public to continue to buy the stamp and to call their members of Congress to voice their strong support for the important legislation that Senators Feinstein and Hutchison introduced today together with nearly 3/4 of the United States Senate,” said Mullen.

      The United States Postal Service announced last month that it plans to pull the Breast Cancer Research Stamp off the market next year in July 2002 in spite of continued strong pubic support, continued strong sales and the stamp’s ability to generate public awareness and vital funds for research.  

     The continuation of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp is supported by numerous individuals representing diverse organizations, including The National Association for Women's Health; The March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation; The American Association of Retired Persons; The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; The YWCA of the USA; The Brain Injury Association; The Center on Disability and Health; The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc.; The American Lung Association of California; The American Association of Health Plans and The Women’s Information Network (WIN) Against Breast Cancer. 

     The net proceeds from sales of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp benefit breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer Research Programs.

      Breast Cancer Research Stamps can be purchased by calling 1-800-STAMP 24 and on-line at:

http://shop.usps.com  (Product search keywords: Breast Cancer Research Stamp)

      To learn more about the National Institutes of Health Breast Cancer Research Program and the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) breast cancer research grants derived from the stamp, visit:

http://newscenter.cancer.gov/pressreleases/stampawards.html

      To learn more about the Breast Cancer Research Stamp and the involvement of the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, visit:

http://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/factsheets/bcstampfactsheet.htm 

Women’s Information Network Against Breast Cancer is a national non-profit organization committed to increasing public awareness about breast cancer and ensuring that individuals from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds have rapid access to quality breast cancer care, state-of-the-art education, support and information about this disease.  For more information about WIN ABC, its programs and services, please visit WIN’s web site at www.winabc.org.

Last Updated: 06/01/2004

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