Dear Friends,
On Tuesday, November 17, Tigerlily Foundation sponsored a Breast Screening Advocacy Day to urge support for the PALS Act (Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screening Act), in opposition to the United States Preventative Service Task Force (USPSTF) and American Cancer Society (ACS) draft recommendations on breast screening guidelines, which would limit access to mammography for millions of women ages 40 to 49.). Young breast cancer survivors descended on the U.S. Capitol to tell their story to the members of Congress, and to advocate for live-saving screening. By the end of the day, these young women met with, in total, 74 congressional offices in support of the PALS Act. What a successful day! Here is the impact:
- 74 members of Congress learned about breast cancer from a young survivor's perspective and that too many women get breast cancer under the age of 45.
- 74 members of Congress learned about the PALS Act and why Congress needs to pass a 2 year moratorium on draft breast screening guidelines which would raise to the age of 50 when breast screening should start and be covered by insurance.
- The House PALS Act, HR 3339, received 1/3 more cosponsors after the Tigerlily Foundation visits.
- The Senate PALS Act, S. 1926, nearly doubled in cosponsors after the Tigerlily Foundation visits.
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz attended our morning breakfast kick-off event, to share her story, and to speak about the benefits of early detection and screening for women.
Read our President & Founder, Maimah Karmo's OpEd in The Hill and visit the event webpage to learn more about PALS, the Co-sponsors (Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Representatives Renee Ellmers, RN (R-NC) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), read Tigerlily Foundation's official statement, how we are working to support PALS and what you can do to help!
Left to Right: Aleena Clavel, Bershan Shaw, Heidi Floyd, Maimah Karmo, Amy Matthews, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ginger Pillar, Becky Olson, Ania Bassene, Rachele Ballard, Peggy Stephens, Jennie Halstead, Shondia Sabari
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Rep. Mike Kelly with Ginger Pillar
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Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz at our breakfast kick-off event |
Aleena Clavel in Rep. McCarthy's Office
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Molly Fishman, Maimah Karmo and Aleena Clavel in Rep. Speier's Office
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Maimah Karmo and R
ep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
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Heidi Floyd and Maimah Karmo on the Senate tram!
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Rep. Dave Trott and
Peggy Stephens
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Rachele Ballard with R
ep. Tipton
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