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.
Seventh Annual Terri Schmidt Legislative Reception SAVE THE DATE!
Thursday, August 12, 2010,
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 2010 Legislative Priorities Include:
- Prescription Drug Co-Pay Cost Limitation. This legislation prohibits health insurers and HMOs from creating specialty tiers requiring patients to pay a percentage of the cost of certain high priced drugs.The Prescription Drug Cost Limitation Bill: S5000B - A8278B - passed both houses in June and is waiting in the Senate to be delivered to the Governor's Office for signature.
- Restrict Bisphenol A (BPA) In Children's Products. Low-dose exposure during vulnerable periods of human growth -- especially during pre-natal development, early childhood, and puberty -- could pre-dispose women and men to breast cancer and other health disorders later in life. The ban on Bisphenol A (BPA) in children's products: S3296H - A6919D passed in both houses and was signed into law by the Governor on 7/30/10.
- New York Healthy and Green Procurement Initiative. This initiative focuses on the responsibilty of government to study the potential for harm from new technology, practice, product, or chemical before they are procured and to seek safer available alternatives.
The Child Safe Playing Fields Bill: S4983C - A7937C - passed both houses and was signed into law by the Governor on 5/18/10.
Albany Advocacy Day – March 9, 2010
The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester attended the New York State Breast Cancer Network's Advocacy Day in Albany on March 9, 2010. Members of the Advocacy Committee, Board of Directors, and the community met with our area state legislators, both Assemblypersons and Senators.
To learn more about the New York State Breast Cancer Network,
visit their web site.
The National Breast Cancer Coalition's 2010 Legislative Priorities
 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.
- $150 million for FY11 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.
For more information please visit www.stopbreastcancer.org |
