Breast Cancer Coalition Taps Leahy To Receive Leadership Award For Record 5th Consecutive Year

WASHINGTON (May 6, 1997) -- The National Breast Cancer Coalition Tuesday presented a Congressional Award to Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont for an unprecedented fifth year in a row.

The coalition recognized Leahy's "outstanding contributions to the fight against breast cancer," which include years of leadership in securing federal funds for research and prevention. Joined by a bipartisan group of allies, Leahy this week began seeking the Senate's support for a request to earmark $175 million within the Pentagon budget for breast cancer research, continuing an effort begun in 1992.

Earlier Tuesday, Leahy met with breast cancer survivors from around the country, including a contingent from Vermont, who gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to deliver petitions containing 2.6 million signatures to congressional leaders, urging support for breast cancer research funds.

"There's nothing like showing up on Congress's door with 2.6 million signatures to get Congress's attention," said Leahy. "Now we have to convert the energy of this petition drive into solid action to conquer this killer."

"The balanced budget agreement is just a framework," Leahy said. "Now we have to work out the details, and that will not be easy. On the Appropriations Committee I will continue to push to make breast cancer research and prevention a high priority as we write the detailed budget."

Vermont and other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states have higher rates of breast cancer than other regions, and Leahy and Congressman Bernie Sanders in 1993 chartered a study, now underway, to find out why.