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 $22 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.
The
U.S. Senate late last night approved legislation offered by Senators Dianne
Feinstein (D-California) and Kay Bailey Hutchison
(R-Texas) to extend the life of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp for an
additional six years in a strong show of bipartisan support to save the historic
stamp which is slated to be taken off the market next year despite continued
strong sales and millions of dollars raised for research.
The
legislation was included as part of the Fiscal Year 2002 Treasury-Postal
Appropriations bill that was approved unanimously by the Senate last night.
If Congressional action is not taken, the stamp could expire next July.
The full House of Representatives has yet to act on the measure.
"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 stamp has raised over $22 million dollars for
research as more than 300 million stamps have been purchased -- that's more than
one for every American."
“The
Breast Cancer Research Stamp is just as necessary today as it was 3 years ago
when Congress first authorized the stamp,” said Senator Joseph Lieberman
(D-CT). “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.”
“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 this rampant disease that has become a blight on our
nation,” said Betsy Mullen of WIN Against Breast Cancer, a leading proponent
of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp.
"The
millions in additional funds raised by the breast cancer research stamp have
been instrumental in the battle against this terrible disease," Senator
Hutchison said. "Each time
this stamp is used, we send a clear message that by working together we can make
a difference in the war against breast cancer."
“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 in
the US House of Representatives to voice their strong support for the important
legislation that Senators Feinstein and Hutchison passed last night together
with an overwhelming majority of the United States Senate,” said Mullen.
U.S.
Representatives David Dreier (R-28-CA), Sue Kelly (R-19-NY), Juanita Millender-McDonald
(D-37-CA) and
Congressman Dan Burton (R-6-IN), Chairman of the Committee on Government Reform
and Oversight; a long-time champion
of this special stamp and the cause that it represents are among the Breast
Cancer Research Stamp’s leading proponents in the US House of Representatives.
“The
breast cancer research stamp is a great way for consumers to donate funds to
fight a terrible disease that touches the lives of so many Americans”, said
Congressman David Dreier.” I
am very proud to represent WIN Against Breast Cancer, an organization that has
helped to lead the way.”
"This
stamp represents one of the easiest methods to raise funds to battle breast
cancer. By
purchasing this stamp, Americans have already shown their commitment to
combating this affliction more than 300 million times, raising over $22
million”, said Congresswoman Sue Kelly. “To
allow production of the stamp to lapse at a time when sales remain strong would
be a mistake. Through this legislation, we can continue the fight against breast
cancer."
The legislation, which had 85 cosponsors in the Senate and which
has over 160 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, 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.
Last year, the General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report showing
that the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has been a success and an effective fundraiser
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 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.
