Both chambers of the United States Congress have approved a bill to create a special breast cancer stamp. The House of Representatives and Senate reached a compromise on the bill’s language and have sent it to the White House for President Bill Clinton’s signature. The bill provides for a 40 cent stamp (eight cents higher than the normal postage rate) whose proceeds will go to fund breast cancer research. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), the bill’s chief Senate sponsor, commented on the passage and President Clinton’s expected signature, “I (cannot) believe that the president of the United States would not sign this (bill) knowing that the women of America made him president.” President Clinton is expected to sign the bill. Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA) was the bill’s chief House sponsor but turned the sponsorship over to Rep. Susan Molinari (R-NY) in order to make its passage through the GOP controlled House easier. Of the bill Fazio commented, “[it] provides an opportunity for people who want to make a difference to voluntarily participate in fighting a problem.” The House and Senate had to agree on Molinari’s language which included a review of the stamp, no other stamp of its kind has ever been issued, after two years. The Senate also agreed to the House version which gave the postal service more leeway in determining administrative costs.
Breast cancer is the leading killer of women age 35 to 52. One in every eight American women is diagnosed with the disease.
