October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  As a strong supporter of breast cancer awareness, I wanted to share with you some information about what I am doing to alleviate this health problem that afflicts so many women and effects so many lives.

To encourage breast cancer awareness, each year I award a breast cancer survivor from the 1st Congressional District who is dedicated and determined to bringing the issue of breast cancer to the forefront.  I named the award the Nancy Pilver Breast Cancer Heroine Award after the late Nancy Pilver of Manchester, who was the inaugural recipient in 1999.  Nancy touched so many lives with her drive, determination, passion, and tireless work for change on both the state and federal level.  Past winners include Barbara Smith of Windsor (2000), Mim Snyder of Manchester (2001), and Shwana Brathwaite of East Hartford (2003), Judith Melchreit of Wethersfield (2004), and Maria Palomares of Manchester (2006).

On December 28, Congressman Larson presented the 7th Annual Nancy Pilver Breast Cancer Heroine Award to Maria Palomares of Manchester.  Larson gives the award each year to a woman from the 1st District who has shown extraordinary dedication to working on the issue of breast cancer through education, prevention, treatment, and awareness.  Larson was joined by Susan Davis of the CT Breast Cancer Coalition Foundation, Dr. Andrew Salner of the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital, Palomares, and 2000 award winner Barbara Smith of Windsor.

Bills Cosponsored

H.R. 493 - Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act
Prohibit health insurers and employers from discriminating based on genetic information.