Legislative Advocacy

Become an Advocate - Aid Change in Laws and Policies

Why Advocacy Matters? In order to achieve our vision to end breast cancer forever, Susan G. Komen for the Cure believes that scientific progress must be complemented by sound public policy. Komen works to influence public policymakers at the federal, state and local levels to increase public investment in quality breast health and breast cancer care.

What is Komen Champions for the Cure^TM? A structured grassroots program designed to educate Congress, the President and other policy-makers about breast cancer thorough community involvement. This program was inspired by the more than 75,000 Komen volunteers who work in local communities and with their state departments. Komen for the Cure recognized an important perspective that these volunteers provide to policy-makers about local needs that impact real people.

Public Policy Initiatives and Results

Expand education and screening funding for low-income women through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
- 2009 Priority- Maintain funding for Kansas' Early Detection Works and Missouri's Show Me Healthy Women
Broaden the laws that oversee the quality of mammography.
Approve the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, a U.S. postage stamp that has raised more than $44 million for breast cancer research.
Approval Medicare coverage of routine patient care while in clinical trials.
Increase Medicare payment for mammograms and breast reconstruction.
Increase Federal funding for research through the National Institutues of Health, the National Cancer Institute and the Departemtent of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.