Conservative U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., who has been trying to stake out to the right of Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., in Louisiana, is not exactly the most natural of partners to pass a bill with U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., the liberal chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
But Vitter and Wasserman Schultz scored a win together this week as the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent their attempt to reauthorize the Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act for five years. The motion was also sponsored by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in the Senate and U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., in the House.
The bill, which Wasserman Schultz wrote and was signed into law by President Barack Obama back in 2010, authorized the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to educate the public on breast cancer, especially for high-risk groups, and created a grant program for charities battling the disease.
Wasserman Schultz, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 41, weighed in on the votes on Tuesday.
Reauthorizing the EARLY Act means the important work the CDC has done educating young women about the breast cancer risks they face will continue, Wasserman Schultz said. We will continue supporting state-led initiatives helping identify high-risk women, collecting family histories and educating doctors.
My deepest thanks go to Congresswoman Renee Ellmers and my colleagues in the House for their support, Wasserman Schultz added. "Thanks go to Sens. Klobuchar, Vitter and Leader Reid for their dedication to this initiative and moving this bill through the Senate. I look forward to this going to President Obama's desk to be signed into law."
Weve made enormous strides forward in the fight against breast cancer, but more work remains to ensure all women and especially young women have the tools and support they need to protect themselves from this disease, Klobuchar, whose name has won some buzz for higher officer, said on Tuesday. Our bipartisan bill will go a long way toward elevating breast cancer awareness and supporting critical research, and todays action means this important legislation will now become law.
Vitter, who is expected to run for governor of Louisiana in 2015, talked about a family loss on Tuesday after the bill was passed.
"My wife Wendy tragically lost her mother to breast cancer when she was just 6, Vitter said. Her loss serves as a continual reminder to our family, including our three daughters, of how important it is to raise awareness about breast cancer and increasing resources to fight the disease. Elevating breast cancer prevention and early detection, increasing research, and expanding access to care will help combat this disease that affects all of us.
Obama is expected to sign the reauthorization.
I look forward to another five years of the EARLY Act helping young women acquire the knowledge and resources they need to not just survive, but thrive, Wasserman Schultz said. With this continued work, we can all look forward to a day when young women will no longer face this disease.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
