WHITE PLAINS – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today announced that the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, which she authored, was recently signed into law by President Bush.

“I am thrilled that this important law, which I have been advocating for nine years, has finally been enacted,” said Lowey. “The Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act will concentrate federal research on the links between breast cancer and the environment. Determining this link will help to decrease the prevalence and improve treatment of this deadly disease.”

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008 more than 180,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die from the disease.

The Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act focuses the federal government on the links between breast cancer and the environment, a relationship that is not fully understood. It creates an Interagency Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Coordinating Committee within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which will consist of advocates and members of the scientific and medical communities. The committee will make recommendations regarding public participation in decisions related to breast cancer research as well as recommendations for expanding research partnerships. The law authorizes up to $40 million per year for research-related activities.

"In Westchester County, on average, more than 750 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and more than 150 women die of the disease," said Karen Bernbach, American Cancer Society lead legislative ambassador. "The American Cancer Society is a science and evidence-based organization. Enactment of the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007 will increase our knowledge about the potential effect of our environment on cancer incidence and mortality, such as those contained H.R. 1157, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act.

"In order to more fully understand the causes of breast cancer, Susan G. Komen believes that biomedical research to examine potential environmental factors related to breast cancer should be expanded,” said Mary Haviland, Director of Grants and Public Policy of the Greater New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “We are very grateful to Congresswoman Lowey for her tireless work in support of the passage of the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act. The Act is major legislative victory and will lend much needed coordination and resources to research possible links between the environment and breast cancer."

Lowey advocated strongly for the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act since she first introduced it in 1999. In the current Congress, the bipartisan bill was cosponsored by 287 Members of Congress.