Some Good News from Washington, DC!

It's not often that you see a headline like that lately, right?! We are glad to share a little good news out of Congress for a change!

Funding for Breast Cancer Research Approved

Congress finally passed a $1.2 trillion budget package this weekend to keep the US government operating through September 2024. We are thrilled to report that this package included the $150 million in FY24 funding for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP), which has been held up due to the ongoing conflicts over the budget. The DOD BCRP funds innovative research aimed at ending breast cancer, and VBCF advocates for robust support for this program each year alongside the National Breast Cancer Coalition (picture below is Virginia advocates attending NBCC's 2023 Lobby Day). Since 1993, this program has brought $49.1 million to breast cancer researchers right here in Virginia at institutions like UVA, VCU, and VA Tech.

SCREENS for Cancer Act Progress

More good news! The federal, bi-partisan SCREENS for Cancer Act (H.R.3916/S.1840) has recently been approved by House and Senate committees in Congress and can now be sent to the floor for a vote. The SCREENS Act reauthorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) for five years, through FY2028. This important program provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for women who are low-income, uninsured, and underinsured who do not qualify for Medicaid. The program is a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments.

In Virginia, the VA Department of Health's Every Woman's Life program (EWL) is supported by NBCCEDP. EWL provides low-income, uninsured Virginians access to free breast and cervical cancer screening services. Since its inception, EWL has provided more than 212,000 breast and cervical screenings, resulting in the diagnosis of more than 2,400 breast cancers and more than 1,200 cervical pre-cancers and cancers. EWL is essential to reaching vulnerable Virginians and saving lives through early detection.  

The SCREENS for Cancer Act would provide additional funding for the NBCCEDP program and would also increase flexibility to NBCCEDP grantees, allowing for a greater emphasis on implementing innovative, evidence-based interventions and aggressive outreach to underserved communities through media, peer educators, and patient navigators.

What's Next? We need Congress to bring the SCREENS for Cancer Act to the floor for a vote. You can help by contacting your U.S. Representative & U.S. Senators.

TAKE ACTION!

Call or Email your U.S. Representative and Virginia's two U.S. Senators (Senators Kaine and Warner) and ask them to co-sponsor the SCREENS for Cancer Act (H.R.3916/S.1840) and support bringing it to the floor for a vote as soon as possible.

• Find contact information for your Congressional legislators here: Who's My Legislator
• Sample Message(please personalize/edit):

"My name is x and I'm a constituent from x city/town. I am calling/writing to ask you to support the SCREENS for Cancer Act (H.R.3916/S.1840). This legislation would help provide lifesaving access to breast cancer screenings for those who cannot afford it. As a breast cancer advocate/survivor/patient, I know how important early detection is in helping patients beat this terrible disease. [Add additional details if you wish] Please co-sponsor this bill and help get it to the floor for a vote as soon as possible. Thank you very much for your consideration."

*Important Note: Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-4th) and Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3rd) are already co-sponsors of H.R.3916. If they happen to be your representative, please thank them for their support!

Questions? Contact kirsta@vbcf.org

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