HARRISBURG – Senate Bill 445, sponsored by Senator Bob Mensch (R-24), was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives today (June 15). This legislation would give individuals renewing either their vehicle registration or driver’s license an option to donate to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.
Statistics show that one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. While not exclusive to women, breast cancer will count for over 276,000 new cases this year in the United States, and almost 50,000 cases in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, breast cancer will claim the lives of roughly 42,000 women nationwide, and an estimated 2,000 in Pennsylvania alone.
Senate Bill 445, also known as ‘Breast Cancer Checkoff’ legislation, will mirror similar processes set in statute which allow individuals renewing registrations or a driver’s license to include an optional $5 donation to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. There are currently options to donate to the Veterans’ Trust Fund, pediatric cancer research, and the Keystone Tree Restricted Account.
“The PA Breast Cancer Coalition has been instrumental in getting important legislation passed to provide coverage and screenings for women, most recently Act 52 of last year, which I sponsored, for insurers to cover MRIs and ultrasounds for women with dense breasts for the purposes of detecting cancer,” Mensch said. “Most importantly, they have always been committed to contributing to the cause, giving over $4.5 million to breast cancer researchers in the Commonwealth. That’s where SB445 comes in. This will allow Pennsylvanians renewing either their vehicle registration or driver’s license an option to donate $5 to the PBCC, assisting in the continuing research to foster innovation and development of an eventual cure. I want to thank all of my colleagues in the Senate and the House for supporting this.”
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) has been leading the fight against breast cancer since 1993. Their mission is simple – to find a cure for breast cancer now so our daughters don’t have to. Over the years, PBCC has spent over 1,500 hours on patient advocacy and contributed over $4.5 million to breast cancer researchers in Pennsylvania. They have also been courageous champions in the push for legislative solutions for expanding insurance coverage for early detection of breast cancer in women.
“The only way to find a cure for breast cancer is by supporting research. Senate Bill 445 will serve as a pathway from Pennsylvania research labs to breast cancer patients all over the world,” said PA Breast Cancer Coalition President Pat Halpin-Murphy. “We are grateful for the constant support of Senator Mensch and all of our state lawmakers who recognize the desperate need for this funding.”
The bill now goes to the Governor for enactment.
For more information on Senator Mensch’s legislation, visit www.senatormensch.com. State updates can also be found on Senator Mensch’s Facebook at facebook.com/PASenatorBobMensch/ or Twitter @SenatorMensch.
CONTACT: Madison Scarfaro mscarfaro@pasen.gov (215) 541-2388