• Illinois General Assembly News
• Smoke Free Illinois signed into law
• Senate Bill 1365
• Congressional Updates
• Department of Defense peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program
• Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act
• Y-ME Illinois and the Faith Community Challenge Rally Against Breast Cancer
• Upcoming Events
• Alderman Ginger Rugai's Softball Tournament
• Loyola Living Well
  
• National Health Policy News

Illinois General Assembly Updates

Governor Blagojevich Signs Smoke Free Illinois Into Law

Illinois became the newest state in the nation to pass a ban on smoking in public places when Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the bill into law on July 23^rd.  The law will go into effect on January 1^st, 2008 and will mandate that all indoor work places, bars, restaurants and casinos in the state will be smoke free.  The law is intended to protect people from the dangers of second-hand smoke.  While some businesses and avid smokers oppose the ban, polls show that 68% of voters in Illinois support the new law. (smokefreeillinois.net)

 
Illinois General Assembly: Senate Bill 1365 - Breast Ultrasound Screening

Senate bill 1365 has passed both the House and the Senate in the Illinois General Assembly.  The legislation has been sent to Governor Blagojevich to sign into law.  The bill "requires coverage for a mammogram at the age and intervals considered medically necessary by the woman's health care provider for women under 40 years of age and having a family history of breast cancer, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other risk factors.  The bill also requires coverage for a comprehensive ultrasound screening of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue." To finish reading the text of the legislation, click here.

Congressional Updates 

House approves FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill: $127.5 Million for Breast Cancer Research Program

On Sunday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Defense Appropriations bill that includes $127.5 million for the Department of Defense peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program FY08.  The Senate is expected to consider its Defense Appropriations bill after the August recess.  Below is a list of Illinois Representatives that signed the DOD Appropriations letter this year; please call and thank them for their support! 

ILLINOIS

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1^st)
Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-2^nd)
Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-3^rd)
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-4^th)
Rep. Peter Roskam (R-6^th)
Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-7th)
Rep. Melissa L. Bean (D-8^th)
Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky (D-9^th)
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-13^th) Sponsor
Rep. Timothy V. Johnson (R-15^th)
Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-16^th)

Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act Update

Senate bill 579 was scheduled for mark up in the Senate Heath, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee the past few weeks.  The HELP Committee session concluded on August 1^st without a debate on the BCERA due to the large amount of amendments and the nature of the other legislation in the mark up.  The BCERA currently has 67 cosponsors in the Senate and 252 cosponsors in the House.  Keep an eye out for an Advocacy Alert letting you know how you can get the Breast Cancer and environmental Research Act to the Senate floor for a vote!

When:  September 10, 2007

           5:00-8:00 pm 

Where: The Hyatt Lodge at McDonald's Campus
           2815 Jorie Blvd.
           Oak Brook, IL

Reservations for the evening are required.  To attend, call (888) LUHS-888.  You can also register online at www.LoyolaMedicine.org/register

Y-ME Illinois at Faith Community Rally Against Breast Cancer

On August 1^st, Rosemarie Rogers spoke on behalf of Y-ME Illinois at the Faith Community Rally Against Breast Cancer, a Komen Community Challenge event. The rally was to call on the Illinois General Assembly to include $3 in the state budget for the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program and the STAND Against Cancer Initiative, to guarantee that within the next 10 years every eligible woman can get screened.  Rosemarie was there to tell women about the programs and services that Y-ME Illinois offers to ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone.  The emcee of the event was former CBS Early Show anchor Rene Syler, and featured State Senators Mattie Hunter and Jacqueline Collins, Illinois State Representatives,  Alderman and many other breast cancer advocates and survivors.  It took place at the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago.

National Health Policy Updates 

National Breast Cancer Study Still Seeking More Minorities To Enroll
[Aug 06, 2007]

Rep. Weiner To Introduce Legislation To Increase Medicare Reimbursement for Mammograms

[Aug 01, 2007]

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said he plans to introduce a bill this week that would increase Medicare reimbursement rates for mammograms, with the aim of reversing a decline in the number of women receiving the exams, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Weiner said the measure, called the "Assure Access to Mammography Act," would help clinics offering mammograms stay open.  Read more

House Bill Would Allow States To Require Pharmaceutical Companies To Offer Discounts to Low-, Moderate-Income Residents
[Jul 30, 2007]

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said he will introduce legislation early this week that would allow states to negotiate discounts on prescription drugs for U.S. residents with no drug coverage and incomes less than 300% of the federal poverty level, the Washington Post reports. Read more

New Gene Linked To Breast Cancer Risk Identified
[July 27, 2007]

Science Daily -- Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a gene linked to the development of an aggressive form of breast cancer.  Read more

Vitter Seeks To Extend Provision Legalizing Canadian Prescription Drug Imports
[Jul 27, 2007]