"THE HEART OF THE MATTER"
a special program of the National Emergency Medicine Association (NEMA)

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Week: 588.1  

Topic: Breast Cancer research stamp 

Reporter: Aaron Cohen 

Host/Producer: Steve Girard 

NEMA: Stamping out breast cancer....coming up 

SPOT: 15 years in the prevention of heart disease, stroke and trauma - the National Emergency Medicine Association. Call 800-332- 6362. 

NEMA: Congress has thrown its two cents into an idea to raise money for breast cancer research...well, more like a penny...Aaron Cohen has Health on the Hill...  

COHEN: The idea for a breast cancer stamp came from Dr. Ernie Bodi, the chief of surgery at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Sacramento proposed a 33 cent stamp with the extra penny going exclusively for breast cancer research. Congress loved the idea...both the House and Senate approved a two year experiment by overwhelming numbers. The breast cancer stamp may not work, but Texas democrat Sheila Jackson Lee figures it’s worth a try...  

LEE: This is a hidden disease, this is a frightening disease, this is a disease that is sometimes whispered around family members when they hear that Aunt Mary, or cousin Susan or their Mom has breast cancer. We want to stamp out breast cancer!  

COHEN: Supporters caution that proceeds from the breast cancer postage stamp will not replace federal funding. They hope the stamp raises 60 million dollars from volunteers willing to give the extra penny to help so many. For Health on the Hill, I’m Aaron Cohen.  

NEMA: And I’m Steve Girard at The Heart of the Matter.