The Advocacy Committee

The mission of the Advocacy Committee is to create and maintain relationships with local, state, and national officials so that we may have opportunities to advocate for and lend support to breast cancer relevant bills and public policies.

We work with the local, state, and national elected officials to help them understand that breast cancer is a major health issue in this country affecting millions of women and families.

We attend the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Advocacy Training Conferences each year in an effort to provide our own community with as many trained advocates as our funds will allow.

We participate in medical and scientific conferences each year to strengthen our position in the scientific community.

We work with the National Breast Cancer Coalition by contacting our members of Congress regarding legislation on quality and availability of care, healthcare reform, and research funding.

We work with citizen and environmental agencies and organizations, such as NYPIRG, BCERF, the Just Green Partnership and RAMP, to increase awareness about environmental hazards related to breast cancer and other public health risks.

Eigth Annual Terri Schmidt Legislative Reception SAVE THE DATE!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Come to meet our local legislators, hear about the services we now provide, and have an opportunity to discuss how we can work together toward our mission of eradicating breast cancer.

In April 2002 we lost one of our beloved friends and fearless leaders, Terri Schmidt, to breast cancer.  Terri worked tirelessly toward our mission to make the eradication of breast cancer a priority through education and advocacy and to promote and focus research into the causes, prevention, treatment, and cure of breast cancer. 

A former supervisor of the town of Rush, New York, Terri Schmitt was a champion for those in our community dealing with AIDS, domestic violence, illiteracy, and a tireless advocate for women and men living with breast cancer.  This reception is held in her honor each year.  Please join BCCR members and legislators for light refreshments and a brief program.

LOCAL
The Committee's meeting time is at Noon, the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 840 University Avenue.

The Advocacy Committee led the effort to pass the Monroe County 48-hr Pesticide Notification Law in 2005 which became effective January 1, 2006.

STATE
The NYS Breast Cancer Network's 2011 Legislative Priorities Include:

1. Restrict the Use of BPA in Thermal Receipts. BPA is a synthetic resin used in many products, including thermal cash register receipts. BPA has been determined to cause tumors in animals, among other genetic damage. Many retailers, including Wegmans, are already using BPA-free thermal paper.
2. Insurance Parity of Cost for Oral Chemotherapy. Introduced in the last legislative session, this legislation would ensure that oral chemotherapy is treated no less favorably than IV or injectable chemotherapy.

Breast Cancer Advocacy Day in Albany– March 20, 2012

The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester's Advocacy Committee members will meet with area State Senators and Assemblymembers in their local offices to advocate for the New York State Breast Cancer Network's 2011 legislative priorites.

To learn more about the New York State Breast Cancer Network,
visit their web site.

NATIONAL
The National Breast Cancer Coalition's 2011 Legislative Priorities

1. Guaranteed Access to Quality Health Care for All. In March 2010, the House and Senate passed and the President signed into law the health care reform package that reflects many of the elements and priorities set forth in NBCC's, Framework for a Health Care System Guaranteeing Access to Quality Health Care for All.
   
2. $150 million for FY12 for the Department of Defense Breast Cance Research Program. As a result of NBCC's advocacy and strong bipartisan leadership on Capitol Hill, more than $2 billion has been invested in this competitive peer-reviewed research Program. This innovative Program has changed the world of breast cancer research. The inclusion of consumers in every aspect of decision-making and the Program's unique grant opportunities have led to groundbreaking scientific advances.

The National Breast Cancer Coalition's 2011 Public Policy Priorities

1. Breast Cancer Prevention Initiative
   Despite years of effort by scientists, we still don't know what causes much of this disease or how to prevent it, and we need a plan of action.  NBCC will develop an overall breast cancer initiative that will make certain this happens. 
2. Preservation of the Medicaid Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program
   While NBCC pursues its work on guaranteeing access to quality health care for all, we are committed to making sure women screened and diagnosed with breast cancer through federal screening programs have access to the care they need.  Congress enacted the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act (P.L. 106-354) in 2000 after years of NBCC grassroots lobbying and influence. 
3. Consumer Involvement in all appropriate venues where decisions about health care and research are made NBCC will pursue federal and state legislation and regulation to ensure meaningful consumer involvement in research and our health care system.

For more information please visit www.stopbreastcancer.org