Senate Committee approves Breast Cancer Research Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Patrick Leahy successfully continued his fight against breast cancer this morning when the Senate Appropriations Committee approved his initiative to include $150 million for breast cancer research in the Department of Defense's (DOD) appropriations for fiscal year 1997.

In 1992, Leahy joined other members in Congress to start a campaign to eradicate breast cancer. Senator Leahy, who is a senior Member of the Appropriations Committee, was able to establish a fund for breast cancer research through the budget of the Department of Defense, which already provided funding for other types of cancer research.

Last week, Senator Leahy circulated a letter among his colleagues asking them to support funding for the DOD Breast Cancer research. Fifty-four senators, both Republicans and Democrats, signed the letter in support.

"Over the past few years, incredible discoveries have been made in breast cancer research,"

Leahy said. "This money will allow us to continue down that road to hopefully find a cure.

The money will be used to fund the peer-reviewed breast cancer research program , which takes an innovative and exploratory look into the biology of breast cancer. Recent studies have concluded that genetics may play an important role in detecting the disease as well as revealing other information regarding the basic mechanism of cancer cells. These new findings have encouraged more research and development, and have also heightened public awareness of breast cancer.

"Research and development are our best hope," the Senator said.

Senator Leahy has been given the National Breast Cancer Coalition's top honor for the past four years for his dedication to keeping the DOD program alive.

Fran Visco, President of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, praising his work said, "Senator Leahy's leadership has been invaluable in our effort to secure funding for research on the cause and cure for breast cancer. His commitment to breast cancer research gives hope to all women who live in fear of this disease."

Leahy noted to his colleagues that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women and that every twelve minutes another woman dies from the disease.