William Daroff, vice president for public policy and director of United Jewish Communities’ Washington office, submitted testimony Wednesday in support of the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act at a House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) aims to increase awareness among women under 40 of breast cancer and UJC has led an online petition drive to gather support for the bill.
The full testimony is after the jump:[[READMORE]]
House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health
Statement in Support of the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act from William C. Daroff, vice president for public policy and director of UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America’s Washington office:
Chairman Pallone, Ranking Member Deal and members of the Subcommittee,
Thank you for the opportunity to express our strong support for the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act to the Subcommittee on Health of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce this morning. We applaud Representative Wasserman Schultz for introducing this bill and thank the Subcommittee for holding today’s hearing.
On behalf of our mothers, daughters, and sisters, UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America join Representative Wasserman Schultz in her efforts to ensure that no woman should unnecessarily suffer from breast cancer simply because she was unaware of or did not understand the early indicators of the disease.
UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America represents 157 Jewish Federations and 400 smaller Jewish communities across the country. As the public policy voice of the Jewish community, as well as one of the nation’s largest social service providers, we are keenly aware of the impact breast cancer has on families as well as the demands placed on those who provide care and support during one’s difficult battle with this disease.
Breast cancer is unfortunately far too common in the Jewish community. In fact, one in 40 Jewish women of Ashkenazi or eastern European descent carries an alteration to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. These genes regulate cell growth and are needed to prevent cancer from developing. Carriers of this alternation are three to seven times more likely to develop breast cancer before the age of 50. These numbers are too staggering to ignore.
It is with this unique perspective that we strongly endorse passage of the EARLY Act. We are joined by 750 individuals and over 50 local, state and national organizations who have signed an online petition sponsored by UJC/The Federations of North America in support of Representative Wasserman Schultz’s bill.
We believe the EARLY Act will help women learn and better understand the early warning signs of breast cancer so they can seek professional treatment sooner. Please approve this bill expeditiously.
Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to discuss this very important piece of legislation.
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