Funding Breast Cancer Research

The DoD Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program

Increased funding for research is vital to eradicating breast cancer. In 1992, Senator Harkin and I successfully fought to transfer $210 million from "Star Wars" to the Breast Cancer Research Program at the Department of Defense. The DoD Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program has proven to be remarkably efficient with more than 90 percent of the federal appropriations directly funding research. Since the program began, more than 2,840 breast cancer research projects have received funding. In fiscal year 2000, we reached the $1 billion milestone of defense budget funding for breast cancer research. I am pleased that Congress has provided an additional $150 million for Program funding in fiscal year 2004 and I recently sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee requesting that this same amount be appropriated for FY05. In addition to drawing greater attention to women's health care within the military, the DoD Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program has enabled many scientists to conduct innovative scientific ventures that have yielded incredible discoveries. These discoveries have brought into sharp focus the areas of research that hold promise and will build on the knowledge and investment we have made.

Breast Cancer Research Stamp

In 1997, I supported a bill to create a special stamp, the proceeds of which would go to the fight against breast cancer. In 1998, the U.S. Postal Service issued the Breast Cancer Research Stamp - the first U.S. stamp to have its net proceeds above the cost of postage earmarked for a research organization or cause. Since the stamp became available, more than 285 million have been sold, raising some $20 million for breast cancer research. The stamp was originally authorized to be sold until July 29, 2000. Due to the overwhelming success of the stamp, an effort was launched to extend the program's life. I was an original cosponsor of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2000 (S 2386) and a subsequent amendment to the FY04 Transportation Appropriations bill that have extended the program for an additional four years. You can now support breast cancer research with your purchase of these stamps until December 2005.