New commemorative coin would generate funds for breast cancer research and awareness at no cost to taxpayers
NEW YORK– Breast cancer has touched the lives of millions of American families, but two members of Congress are working to help change that through increased research and awareness of the disease which is now the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Today New York Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) and Texas Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) joined the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) President Myra Biblowit, President and CEO of Susan G. Komen Dr. Salerno, and breast cancer survivors to announce their plan to raise millions of dollars for the fight against breast cancer. The House member will soon introduce the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act, which would direct the U.S. Treasury to issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, up to 400,000 $1 silver coins and 750,000 half-dollar clad with a design to symbolize the fight against breast cancer in 2018. The production cost of these coins will be fully covered within the sales price, and the proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, headquartered in New York, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, headquartered in Texas. The bill has been cosponsored by 306 Members of the House.
“It is estimated that over 231,000 new cases of breast cancer will occur in the U.S. in 2015, and tragically 40,000 women will die from it,” said Congresswoman Maloney. “Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and the only way for us to eradicate it is through research to find a cure and increased awareness and screenings. There are only a handful of ways Congress can raise money to assist this fight at no cost to taxpayers and creating a commemorative coin is one. If we pass this bill, we can provide millions of dollars to raise awareness and accelerate research.”
The Breast Cancer Foundation (BCRF) has raised more than $500 million for research, making it one of the largest supporters of privately funded research across 25 states and 14 countries. BCRF is dedicated to keeping administrative costs low. Of every dollar donated to BCRF, $0.91 goes to research and awareness programs- $0.88 towards research and $0.03 towards awareness.
Susan G. Komen has spent over $847 million on research in 48 states and around the world. Komen’s mission is to attack the disease on all fronts: in research, community outreach, education. The organization provides peer-reviewed research grants, which have resulted in breakthrough scientific discoveries that bring us closer to eradicating breast cancer.