Amata urges stronger support for Breast Cancer research bill in U.S. House and Senate
October 17, 2005

by B. Chen-Fruean

Samoa News Correspondent

Aumua Amata Coleman has urged her national breast cancer coalition network to use Breast Cancer Awareness Month to get more co-sponsors to support the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act.

Governor Togiola Tulafono has declared October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the territory.

According to Aumua, the U.S. Senate in its entirety has passed the Department of Defense (DOD) appropriations bill, with $150 million dollars earmarked for the DOD peer-reviewed breast cancer research program (DODBCRP).

Former White House Commissioner Aumua Amata said, "It is particularly good news for Polynesian and Pacific Islander women because they "they are among the highest risk group and are diagnosed with breast cancer at a rate substantially higher than Asian Americans." Amata believes the compelling healthcare needs of diverse Pacific Islander and Asian American populations require a comprehensive, coordinated, community-based and culturally competent response. "Additional money to solve the breast cancer problem through more research will disproportionately help our women because they are at such a high risk," she said.

Aumua urges her network colleagues to use October to focus on adding even more U.S. Senate and voting House Member co-sponsors to the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act.

Aumua explained that the legislation authorizes the National Institutes of Environmental Health (NIEHS) to make grants for the development and operation of research centers to study factors that may be related to the development of breast cancer. She specified that $30 million dollars per year in Fiscal Years 2006 through 2011 would be authorized for this purpose.

Aumua said, "We need you and your networks to focus your advocacy efforts on getting additional co-sponsors in both the Senate and the House."

Furthermore, Aumua reiterated that "we must get at least 60 Senators and at least 218 voting Members of Congress to sign on as soon as possible."

She emphasized, "We're down to the short strokes, folks. It's of utmost importance to focus our activism in contacting Senators and Representatives to urge them to sign on! Please get your networks focused on maximizing efforts in each state and territory toward getting more congressional support for the House and Senate bills."

Aumua has been involved with the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) since 1993. The Coalition is a grassroots advocacy effort in the fight against breast cancer. In 1991, the Coalition was formed with one mission - to eradicate breast cancer through action and advocacy.

NBCC is the nation's largest breast cancer advocacy group with hundreds of member organizations and tens of thousands of individual members. Its sister organization empowers and trains members to be effective in every aspect of the fight to end breast cancer.

Amata concluded, "It gives women the tools to make their own informed decisions and to work with legislative, scientific and clinical decisionmakers. Once trained, these advocates represent NBCC as they influence public policies that impact breast cancer research, diagnosis and treatment."