Call to Action Each of you has tremendous power to make a difference by participating in our Call to Action program. BABCN has a productive history of public policy work that began in Washington in May of 1991, when we joined other grassroots organizations to create a national plan to end the breast cancer epidemic. Since that time, there has been a clear process for national public policy change for breast cancer under the leadership of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and through the voices of thousands of individual women. State Legislation In 2002 the state of California opted into the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program. This program provides full MediCal coverage for the duration of treatment for uninsured or underinsured women under 200% of the federal poverty level who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through government programs. Funding for this program is still included in the budget of Governor Davis at this time. This budget includes an increase in the estimated number of women who will be newly diagnosed as well as those already in treatment. This critical funding was hard fought for and we continue to monitor it carefully as the state struggles with huge deficits. Federal Legislation Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Funding at $175 million THANK YOU to all who responded to our Call to Action asking Congress to sign on to the Letter of Intent for 2004 DOD Breast Cancer Research funding at $175 million. Your messages made a difference. Members of the California Congressional delegation who “signed on” included 39 (of 46) House members and both Senators. Strong support of the Letter of Intent has moved the DOD request on to the Appropriations Subcommittee of which Senator Feinstein is a member. Equally important are the people across America that you reached out to, who then called on their representatives for breast cancer research action. Great job everyone! The Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act (HR 1746) for $30 million It is generally believed that the environment plays some role in the development of breast cancer, but the extent of that role is not understood. More peer-reviewed research needs to be done to determine the impact of the environment on breast cancer, which has been understudied in the past. The Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act was introduced to the House on April 10th and has gone on to be introduced to the Senate. It authorizes $30 million for each fiscal year from 2004 to 2009 to the National Institute of Environmental Health Science to establish multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research centers to study potential links between the environment and breast cancer. These centers would award grants based on a competitive, peer-reviewed process that involves consumer advocates. Please call, fax and email your House of Representatives members. Ask them to sign on to the Letter of Intent seeking support for legislation to fund the 2004-2009 Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act (HR 1746) for $30 million. We also need you to ask family and friends all over the US to contact their representatives with the message. To find your representative go to: www.congress.org and simply enter in your zip code. Spring 2003
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