Generic Drugs Access Act of 2003

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1385) to extend the provision of title 39, United States Code, under which the United States Postal Service is authorized to issue a special postage stamp to benefit breast cancer research, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1385, introduced by my distinguished colleague from my home State of California (Mr. Baca), extends the life of the breast cancer research semipostal stamp.

Mr. Speaker, on the night of July 22, 1997, Dr. Ernie Bodai, Betsy Mullen, and David Goodman sat breathlessly in the House gallery awaiting the outcome of a vote that they had worked tirelessly to see become a reality. At that time, H.R. 1585, the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act, was landmark legislation establishing the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Program and directing the U.S. Postal Service to issue a new first-class breast cancer stamp with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Programs.

This advocacy team, a surgeon, a survivor and a widower, used their own time and resources to convince lawmakers to pass this essential legislation.

Dr. Ernie Bodai of Carmichael, California, a constituent and personal friend of mine, led the charge. After 14 visits to Washington within 2 years, as well as spending over $100,000 of his personal savings, he succeeded, creating the lead for breast cancer fund-raising. Dr. Bodai is the pioneer of the breast cancer stamp, chief of general surgery for Kaiser Permanente, and CEO of CureBreastCancer, Inc.

Joining him in this crusade was Betsy Mullen. Ms. Mullen is one of slightly over 2 million women living in the United States who have been diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 at age 33 and formed the Women's Information Network Against Breast Cancer, the acronym WIN ABC, which provides information and support for life-and-death decisions about treatment options.

The final member of this advocacy team is David Goodman, a WIN board member who lost his wife to breast cancer less than a year before appearing on the House floor.

H.R. 1585, the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act, passed the House on a 433 to three vote; and on August 13, 1997, President Clinton signed this legislation into law. By May 9, 1998, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled the new 40 cent stamp, and August 9 the stamp officially went on sale to the public.

The legislation we are considering today, H.R. 1385, reauthorizes the breast cancer research stamp program through the year 2006. The stamp marks the first time that some of the proceeds of stamp sales have gone to fund research, and the awareness raised as a result of this historic stamp designed to save lives continues to be priceless. As of December of 2002, 421.3 million breast cancer research stamps have been sold dating from July 29, 1998, raising almost $30 million for biomedical breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

The Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program receives 30 percent of the moneys raised from stamp sales. Since the breast cancer stamp was introduced, Department of Defense has received over $9 million from the stamp's sales, and the National Cancer Institute has received $24 million.

The breast cancer stamp functions like a regular first-class stamp and is purchased on a voluntary basis by the public. In 1997, when a person purchased the breast cancer stamp, 32 cents would be used for postage and the extra 8 cents from each stamp sold was turned over to research programs run by the National Institutes of Health and the Defense Department. Today, the stamp can be purchased for 45 cents.

The stamp is a line drawing of the Roman goddess Diana reaching back to retrieve an arrow from her quiver, and the words, ``Fund the fight. Find a cure,'' written across.

The exact cause of breast cancer is not known; therefore it is imperative that researchers continue to study the basic biology of cancer.

Research proposals funded by the Breast Cancer Research Stamp look at the basic biology of breast cancer, such as understanding the changes in breast cells, including DNA and proteins in the cells that result in the development of breast cancer. An increased understanding in cancer cells could lead to the development of new drugs to prevent or treat breast cancer.

Funding is directed to prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment research projects. Studies examine the use of antibiotics to block breast cancer cell growth, to observe tumor behavior to keep the cancer from spreading, to explore immunotherapy and the potential to create a vaccine to stimulate the human immune system to protect itself from breast cancer, and search for alternatives to mammography for breast cancer detection.

The program's success encouraged Congress to appropriate additional funds to the Breast Cancer Research Program in subsequent years, totaling over $1.6 billion through fiscal year 2004. To date, the Breast Cancer Research Program supported awards in three categories: Research, Research Resources, and Training Recruitment, as well as the Innovator Award.

Projects are coordinated to specifically avoid duplication of research between the Department of Defense on the one hand and the National Institutes of Health on the other. Awards are meant to fill gaps in ongoing research and to compliment initiatives sponsored by other agencies. The Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program has emphasized support for research and training awards that encourage innovative approaches to breast cancer research to accomplish the program's vision of eradicating breast cancer.

In addition to research, the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program has sponsored three Era of Hope meetings to publicly present results of DOD funded studies and provide researchers with the opportunity to share their results with the scientific community, with policymakers, and with the lay public. The most recent meeting, in 2003, was held in Orlando, Florida, with over 1,500 scientists, clinicians, and breast cancer survivors and advocates in attendance.

A National Cancer Institute report estimates that about one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, accounting for 30 percent of all cancers in women. In 2004, more than 40,000 individuals are projected to die from breast cancer. In 2003, the American Cancer Society estimated 21,100 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in my home State of California and, of these, 4,000 women will die from this disease.

An individual's breast cancer risk depends on a variety of factors, including family history, reproductive history, life-style factors such as heavy alcohol consumption and smoking, and a number of other factors that are not yet understood. A woman's risk for developing breast cancer increases if her mother, her sister, her daughter, or two or more other close relatives, such as cousins, have a history of breast cancer, especially at a young age. However, 85 percent of women who develop breast cancer have no known family history of the disease.

Early detection and treatment is the key to survival. Declining death rates caused by breast cancer are believed to be the result of early detection and improved treatment. Breast cancer prevention experts strongly encourage women of all ages to have regular mammograms and to conduct breast self-examinations monthly.

When people choose to purchase the Breast Cancer Stamp every day, they can turn that simple little act into a meaningful and effective way to participate in the fight against breast cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by thanking my friend, Dr. Ernie Bodai, for his persistence in this fight against breast cancer. Driving through Sacramento, he can be easily spotted in his car, which is adorned by its license plate PL 105-41, the public law number that made the breast cancer fund-raising stamp official. It is in honor of this man and to honor the lives of the victims of breast cancer that I stand before my colleagues, supporting the reauthorization of H.R. 1385.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) for his efforts towards stamping out breast cancer, and I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 1385.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I join the gentleman in complimenting the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) for introducing this legislation, and I urge all Members to support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for yielding me this time, and I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for his support.

I rise in support of H.R. 1385, my bill to authorize the Breast Cancer Research Stamp through the year 2006. I am proud to say that the language in my original bill extending the stamp through the year 2005 was included in the omnibus and signed by the President last Friday. This amendment will extend the stamp for 1 additional year, through the year 2006.

It has been a long, hard fight to extend the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. It is a fight I began when I was in the California assembly and have continued to do so here in Congress.

But we would not be here today without the hard work of several individuals. I want to thank Dr. Bodai for first asking me to introduce this resolution urging Congress to extend its research stamp when I was in the California State Assembly. It was Dr. Bodai who developed the idea of a Breast Cancer Research Stamp, and it was through his crusade and persistence that we have it here today. Had it not been for him doing it in California, in Sacramento, it would not have happened.

I also want to thank Senator Feinstein and the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose). And I know it was difficult for him to be here this afternoon, because he and I were both on the Red-eye. He knew the importance of this bill and what it means to many individuals, and I want to thank him for his leadership and his hard work and what he has done to make sure that the sunset on the research stamp is extended. And for that, I compliment the gentleman for taking the time, on the Red-eye, on this important issue to address this issue here today.

I introduced this bill last year for one reason, and that is to save lives. All of us care about saving lives. This issue is more important to me now. I recently learned from my son, Joe Baca, Jr., that his wife's grandmother passed away from breast cancer. We will miss Josefine Sanchez and many others who have died, but early detection and prevention and research may have prevented this. By working together to pass this important piece of legislation we can prevent such tragedies.

This year, more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 40,000 women and men will die from this disease. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in every major ethnic group in the United States. And I say every ethnic group, not one, but all. It does not discriminate. Whether an individual is white, black, Hispanic, or whatever race or ethnicity, everyone is at risk. Early prevention and early detection is of the utmost importance.

Breast cancer is still the number one cancer killer of women between the ages of 15 to 54, between 15 to 54. The disease claims a woman's life every 15 minutes in the United States. Imagine that, claiming the life of a woman every 15 minutes. More than 2 million women are living with breast cancer in America today, yet 1 million of them have not been diagnosed. One million women have not been diagnosed. That is why it is important to increase the funding for breast cancer research.

The Breast Cancer Research Stamp is among the most successful commemorative stamps of all time, with 485 million stamps sold. I repeat: 485 million stamps sold. The stamp program has generated over $35 million for breast cancer research. It has been a critical ally in generating the resources necessary to wage war on this terrible, terrible disease.

The stamp is a semipostal stamp that can be voluntarily purchased by the public for only 45 cents. It is worth it to save a life. Eight cents of each stamp sold goes to the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.

Working with Dr. Bodhai, Senator Feinstein introduced the Breast Cancer Research Stamp bill in 1998 to help support the fight against breast cancer. I am also proud to say that California continues to lead the way, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) for starting it in Sacramento, along with Dr. Bodhai. It has contributed over $3 million in research funds, or roughly 21 percent of the money raised nationwide.

Today, I ask for Members' support for the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, my bill, and all women and men who will benefit from the money the stamp raises.

We have the support of 150 Members who have cosponsored my bill, and countless organizations like the American Cancer Society, American Medical Association, the Breast Cancer Fund, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

By supporting reauthorization of this stamp, you are not only helping research but you are helping to raise awareness and save future lives.

Think about it: the customer purchases a stamp, a carrier delivers it, and a person receives it. That is three people who have seen the message saying breast cancer needs to be stamped out. Each time we use the stamp, not only do we raise additional funds for research; we send a message of hope to many men and women who have this terrible disease. We need to find a cure, and we will find a cure. With Members' continued support of this legislation, we will do that.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform's Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight, I am pleased to join my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) in consideration of H.R. 1385 extending the issuance of the Breast Cancer Semipostal Stamp through December 31, 2006. H.R. 1385, as amended, was introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) on March 20, 2003, and has 145 cosponsors.

Semipostals are stamps sold with a surcharge above the cost of a first-class postage stamp with the net surcharge amount going to a designated cause. We owe our interest in semipostal stamps to Dr. Ernie Bodai, Chief of Surgery at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Sacramento, California, and former Representative Vic Fazio. Dr. Bodai first proposed the idea of a semipostal with the money raised going towards breast cancer research. He took his idea to Representative Fazio, and on May 7, 1996, Representative Fazio introduced the first semipostal bill, H.R. 3401, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act. Representative Fazio was joined in this effort by Senator Dianne Feinstein of California when she introduced identical legislation in the Senate.

The following year, Representative Fazio joined Representative Susan Molinari of New York in introducing H.R. 1585, Stamp Out Breast Cancer. This bill was subsequently enacted into law, Public Law 105-41. The law not only authorized a breast cancer research stamp for 2 years, it also required the General Accounting Office to submit a report to Congress that evaluated the effectiveness of the appropriateness of this method of fund-raising. In its first report issued in 2000, GAO determined that the semipostal statute was successful and an effective and appropriate way to fund-raise.

By way of addressing the health issues raised by many of the semipostal bills pending in Congress, the chairman and ranking members of the former Subcommittee on the Postal Service, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) introduced H.R. 4437, the Semipostal Authorization Act. This measure, which became law, Public Law 106-253, provided the Postal Service with discretionary authority to issue semipostals provided the revenue raised goes to Federal agencies and is for medical research. Such authority is similar to the discretion the Postal Service currently has in deciding which commemorative stamps to issue.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in our country. More than 2 million women have been diagnosed with breast cancer and at least another 1 million are unaware that they have it. Every year, nearly $7 billion is spent on breast cancer treatment, all the more reason to support the issuance of a Breast Cancer Semipostal Stamp.

Since its issuance in 1998, the Breast Cancer Stamp has raised over $30 million for research. By law, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense are the recipients of the money and are required to submit an annual report to Congress on the amount of funds received, how the funds were spent, and accomplishments. The sale of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has done much to increase public awareness of the disease and has allowed millions of people the opportunity to participate directly in raising money for this much- needed research.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for his effort and cannot express enough my support for his measure. I would also like to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), and the House leadership, both Democrat and Republican, and the Senate for working to ensure an additional source of research money for breast cancer.

I urge the swift adoption of H.R. 1385.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca), who introduced this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would indicate that California is leading the way on this issue, and the rest of us are very pleased to follow their example. I urge swift passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) for this legislation. It is an important piece of legislation, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of it.

This is the first fund-raising stamp in the United States, and it benefits the eradication of breast cancer. During the holidays at home wherever I was, whether it was a holiday party, in the grocery store, wherever I was, there was someone that came up to me and said I went to the post office to buy the breast cancer stamp, and was told that it is no longer available because Congress has not reauthorized it. People know, and they have become attached to this effort and very supportive of it for what it produces.

The stamp was introduced in 1998, and the profits are split between the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense's Health Research Division, as called for by Congress. Over 450 million of these 45 cent stamps have been sold. I am very proud to say that of the $35 million raised, California continues to lead the way because we have contributed roughly 21 percent of the money that has been raised nationwide.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues have expressed our collective concerns about the issue of breast cancer. Certainly during my tenure in the Congress I have been very proud to have worked on the causes of breast cancer, for the optimal treatments for breast cancer, and ultimately a cure for breast cancer. These have all been priorities of mine.

I see that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) is here on

the floor. We worked very hard together to pass the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, which was introduced and passed in the 106th Congress. As one of my colleagues said, more than 2 million women in America are living with breast cancer today. During the time that we have been on the floor and making comments on this, three women in the United States have died as a result of breast cancer. The statistics we still carry with us. I think this is an important effort, and I thank everyone who is a part of this effort and urge all of my colleagues to vote for this measure and make it unanimous so we send a message out to Americans who have gone to their post office and not found this stamp available that Congress has reauthorized it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1385, legislation which would allow the United States Postal Service to continue its successful breast cancer semipostal stamp. Proceeds from this stamp directly benefit breast cancer research.

Breast cancer is a serious concern for all of us. We all have friends, family members, constituents and colleagues who have battled this serious disease. Breast cancer does not discriminate--Americans of every age, race, religion, gender, economic standing and political affiliation are affected by this disease.

The figures are alarming. An estimated three million women in the U.S. are living with breast cancer--one-third of whom do not know they have this deadly disease. It is the most common form of cancer in America, excluding skin cancers. More than 240,000 new cases--1 every 3 minutes--occur in the United States each year. More than 40,000 women will die from the disease.

One of our strongest weapons against breast cancer is early awareness and treatment. Women who are screened and diagnosed early can begin treatment before the disease becomes more advanced. That is why raising awareness of the disease is so critical.

The breast cancer stamp has clearly helped to raise awareness and funds for this serious disease. Since it was first created in 1998, more than 421 million stamps sold, raising $29.5 million for biomedical breast cancer research. The alarming rate at which breast cancer is detected mandates that we continue to work toward a cure for this disease which is claiming so many lives worldwide. Enactment of H.R. 1385 will further enable research in an effort to increase the survival rate.

This disease calls for each of us to take a stand in an effort to find a cure and bring some solace to a disease that has tormented our mothers, wives, aunts, sisters and daughters. The importance of this stamp has immeasurable value and I strongly support enactment of this important legislation.

I encourage my colleagues to join the 145 cosponsors of this bill by passing H.R. 1385.