National Advocacy Day – Peak of the Week

Front Row from L: Deborah Brown, VBCF Peninsula Chapter President; Jessica Ramirez, VBCF Board Member; Lisa DeFerrari, VBCF Board Member and NBCC Team Leader; Jackinah Andrews; Kathleen Myrick; Eunice Fenwick, former VBCF Board Member; Bernice O’Donnell

Back Row from L: Sharon Coombs, VBCF Intern; Katy Sawyer, VBCF Executive Director; Erica Morgan; Karen Weiss; Gabriele Conn, VBCF Board Member; Becky Bowers-Lanier

Not pictured: Marylinn Minor, VBCF Board Member and NBCC Team Leader; Susan Siegel, VBCF Immediate Past President and NBCC Board Member and Team Leader; Kirsta Millar, VBCF Policy Manager

VBCF volunteer advocates walked 4+ miles up and down Capitol Hill on Tuesday, April 30th to meet with members of Virginia’s Congressional Delegation. It was a great 2019 National Breast Cancer Advocacy Day! This is an annual event hosted by the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC). Our special thanks to all the advocates who took the time to attend this year and the Team Leader who led our group meetings.

VBCF advocates met with congressional staff from the following offices:

• Senator Tim Kaine
• Senator Mark Warner
• Representative Elaine Luria (VA-02)
• Representative Donald McEachin (VA-04)
• Representative Denver Riggleman (VA-05)
• Representative Bobby Scott (VA-03)
• Representative Abigail Spanberger (VA-07)
• Representative Jennifer Wexton (VA-10th)

*We also dropped off policy materials at the remaining VA offices.

During our meetings we discussed the key legislative priorities for 2019:

• $150 million for FY20 for the DoD Breast Cancer Research Program.  Advocates asked their members to support this innovative, peer-reviewed research program.

• Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (HR 2178)  Advocates asked legislators to sign on as a co-sponsor of this important bill that would waive the waiting periods for Medicare and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for individuals with metastatic breast cancer.

VBCF advocates, many of whom are breast cancer survivors, were also able to share their personal stories and why these issues are so important to them. Many of the congressional aides had family or friends who also have been affected by breast cancer and they shared their experiences. The meetings were very productive, with several offices expressing interest in supporting our priorities. VBCF will follow-up as the session continues.