The Breast Cancer Stamp:

As a result of the efforts of breast cancer advocates, the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act was authorized by Public Law 105-41 in 1997. This legislation led to the U.S. Postal Service's issuance of a new first-class stamp, the Breast Cancer Research Semipostal (BCRS). The stamp can be purchased on a voluntary basis by the public. Net revenues from the sales of the stamp are provided to two designated funding agencies, the DoD Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) and the National Institutes of Health, to support breast cancer research.

Facts:

• Since the stamp was first offered for sale in 1998, the BCRP has received 30% of the sales revenues of the stamp, totaling $20,931,948.89 through Fiscal Year 2010.
• Since 1998, several legislations have extended the sale of the BCRS. Most recently, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act (Public Law 110-150) extended the authorization through December 31, 2011.
• Stamp funds received by the BCRP have been used to fully or partially fund 43 Idea Awards and 3 Synergistic Idea Awards. Both award mechanisms support highly innovative, high-risk, high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries in breast cancer.
• Applications funded with BCRS monies are reviewed according to the two-tiered review system recommended by the Institute of Medicine for the BCRP.

Please see the BCRS program booklet for more details, including a list of the awards supported by BCRS revenues.