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Pink Ribbons
And so began my friendship with Margaret. In the years that followed, I would come to know Margaret as a deeply loving mother, a hard-working employee, a true and dedicated friend, and above all, a committed Christian. She was well-dressed, walked with poise, and always carried a legal pad even years after leaving the legal profession to become a member of my congressional staff. She was always matter of fact, and her comments were to the point. And she used her smile like she used her words: carefully, genuinely, and warmly. In 2001, Margaret went to the doctor and heard the words that 200,000 women hear each year: “You have breast cancer.” Naturally, she and her family were shaken. For three years, Margaret endured doctor appointments, surgical procedures, and chemotherapy treatments. She lost some things - her hair, her appetite, and her energy to name a few. But Margaret never lost faith in God or her devotion to others. Even when her strength was at its weakest and her own personal needs at their greatest, she came to work everyday because she knew that in helping others - whether helping a senior get their Social Security check, or helping a veteran get their benefits - she was living a life worth living. On October 17, 2004, surrounded by family and loved ones, Margaret died. We gathered on a rainy Wednesday to say goodbye. October always reminds me of Margaret. It is the month she died, but it is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Twenty years ago, very few people openly discussed breast cancer. Today, pink ribbons can be found on wrist bands, lapels, bumpers, and even football players and referees on Monday Night Football. Most of all, breast cancer awareness is highlighted by the growing number of survivors who are alive to share their stories of difficulty and triumph. Each of us probably knows someone who has been impacted by this disease. A mother. A friend. An aunt. A teacher. A sister. A neighbor. According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. More than 40,000 people will die from the disease this year. Even for women who have survived cancer, the fear of the disease returning hardly goes away. Breast cancer is a ravaging disease that deserves our full commitment at a personal and federal level. Breast Cancer Q&A The federal government has a role in fighting breast cancer, too. In addition to the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act (H.R. 1691) to allow breast cancer patients and their doctors to decide whether they should recuperate in the hospital for 48 hours before returning home, I’ve introduced a bill to help launch us into a new era of medical discovery in America. It would enable us to invest in cures for diseases that are impacting millions of Americans, like breast cancer. The Accelerate Cures for Patients Act, H.R. 3475, would double funding for medical research at the National Institutes of Health and prioritize funding towards research that has the greatest potential to become a useful treatment for patients. Imagine the impact we could have on a disease like breast cancer if we unleashed our best and brightest scientists to deliver us medical breakthroughs. Advancing these research efforts would bring an immediate impact to women across the country. • The Employment Law Guide for Small Businesses, a publication of the DOL, offers helpful information on developing wage, benefit, safety and health, and nondiscrimination policies for small businesses in the general industry. You can find the guide online at www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/index.htm. • An interactive e-tool called eLaw Advisors answers federal employment law questions in an easy-to-understand way by simulating an interaction you might have with a law advisor. eLaw Advisors are beneficial to both employers and employees and can be found at www.dol.gov/elaws/. • A summary of major employment laws is available as a tool to acquaint you with basic employment issues such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, among others. The summary also includes references to the full description of each federal law listed in the summary. The summary is available at http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/lawsprog.htm. Don’t get lost in employment law. Take advantage of the resources provided to you and make the most of your small business. For more information on employment law, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s website at www.dol.gov. |
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