Capito Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill to Mint Coins in Support of Breast Cancer Research

Statement

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) announced her support today for bipartisan legislation to fight breast cancer by minting coins for one year to benefit life-saving breast cancer research.

"Too many families have experienced a friend or loved one battle breast cancer -- my own included -- and they shouldn't have to," said Senator Capito. "I am proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in co-sponsoring legislation that will support and accelerate breast cancer research, giving our daughters, mothers, wives, sisters and loved-ones a better chance to live long and healthy lives."

Introduced during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act would create pink, silver and metal-alloy coins to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's efforts to fight breast cancer. Minted at no additional cost to taxpayers, the coins would become available for purchase in 2018, and would be minted the following year using the funding from coin orders.

Breast cancer impacts 231,840 women nationwide, who according to estimates, will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2015. Breast cancer ranked highest in 2014 among all cancer care expenditures, costing an estimated $18.1 billion.

The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.). Additional co-sponsors include Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

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