On September 25, the House approved, by voice vote, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act (H.R. 1157). The Senate approved the measure, by unanimous consent, on September 26. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved, by voice vote, the bill on September 23, after adopting a substitute amendment by Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), also by voice vote. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on H.R. 1157 on May 21 (see The Source, 5/21/08).
The substitute amendment would create, within six months of enactment, an Interagency Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Coordinating Committee rather than the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Panel included in the original bill. The committee would be required to coordinate and share information on existing research, and make recommendations on how to improve existing research, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies. The committee would be required to advise the NIH and other federal agencies in soliciting research proposals, including research on “environmental and genomic factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer.” The committee would be required to make recommendations to the secretary within two years “to improve the research portfolio of the National Institutes of Health to ensure that scientifically-based strategic planning is implemented in support of research priorities that impact breast cancer research activities.” The committee also would be required to report on strategies to increase the involvement of patient advocacy and community organizations. The bill would authorize $40 million per year for FY2009-2012 for the committee to carry out its activities.
Speaking on behalf of the bill during the committee mark-up, Rep. Myrick said, “I’ve been a co-sponsor of this bill led by [Rep.] Nita Lowey [D-NY] for the past seven years. Americans who have had breast cancer, including myself, and those who have seen loved ones battle this disease all wonder about environmental causes and contributing triggers. While studies have been done and some progress has been made in the area of hormone replacement therapy, for example, there is much we don’t know. Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer in women. We’ve made great strides through treatments like Herceptin and aggressive screening programs but we don’t know what causes it or many other cancers for that matter. Since the introduction of this bill, the NIH has enhanced its research but we must do more to address potential connections between breast cancer and diet, pollution, chemicals, household products, and lifestyle choices.”
