News & Alerts

2022 August Recess Grassroots Actions

July 15, 2022

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The 117th Congress will adjourn for August recess soon. The House will be out from July 29 to September 12 and the Senate will adjourn from August  8 to September 5. During this time, Representatives and Senators will be in their home districts. This is our opportunity to act and contact them when they are at home in their districts and ask them to support the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (MBCACA.) 

This year, one of NBCC’s highest legislative priorities is to enact legislation to waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility and the five-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for individuals with Metastatic Breast Cancer.  

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act was introduced in the House as H.R. 3183 on May 13, 2021, by Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL) and John Katko (R-NY). The bill currently has 210 cosponsors. On April 22, 2021, Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced S. 1312 in the Senate. The bill currently has 28 cosponsors. 

Now we want to build on the broad bipartisan momentum of these bills and get them passed in this Congress. There are actions you can take to help us reach this important goal: 

ACTIVITIES FOR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS WHO ARE CURRENTLY NOT COSPONSORS OF H.R. 3183/S. 1312 

• Attend a Town Hall meeting—check your member’s website for upcoming Town Hall meetings. 
• Send an op-ed piece or letter to the editor of your local newspaper and/or use social media to ask the Representative/Senator to cosponsor H.R. 3183/S. 1312 (this can be combined with a thank you for members of Congress in the same delegation who have already signed on to the bill). 
• Send an email or call the health care policy staff person in your Representative/Senator’s D.C. office and ask them to review the bill and recommend cosponsorship when the House and Senate reconvene in September. 
• Remind your Representative/Senator and/or their staff person that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and offer to help publicize the Representative’s/Senator’s support for H.R. 3183/S. 1312 should he/she cosponsor. 

In the House 

Please have your Representatives fill out this Google Form to cosponsor H.R. 3183.  

Direct any questions to Nora Blalock nora.blalock@mail.house.gov  in Rep. Kathy Castor’s (D-FL-14) office or Tristan Southard (tristan.southard@mail.house.gov) in Rep. John Katko’s (R-NY-24) office.  

In the Senate 

Please have your Senators contact Christopher Mewett christopher_mewett@murphy.senate.gov in Sen. Chris Murphy’s (D-CT) office or Haley DeHaes Haley_DeHaes@ernst.senate.gov in Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-IA) office. 

ACTIVITIES FOR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS WHO ARE CURRENTLY COSPONOSRS OF H.R. 3183/S. 1312 

• Submit a letter to the editor of the local newspaper and/or post on social media thanking the Representative/Senator for cosponsoring H.R. 3183/S. 1312 and reiterate why it is important for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. 
• Reach out to the Representative’s/Senator’s district office and offer to provide an article or background information for their newsletter, website, or materials for events being held during October in commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

• Ask for a commitment that the Representative/Senator will work to get the bill enacted. 
• Invite the Representative/Senator to attend/speak at any local events being held over the August recess or any planned events for October. 
• Offer to work with the Representative’s/Senator’s staff on a press event/roundtable discussion or other event during the month of October to highlight his/her support for the bill and his/her engagement on breast cancer issues. 

If you have any questions or need additional resources/talking points/contact information, please contact policy@stopbreastcancer.org. 

As always, thank you for your important advocacy on behalf of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and our mission to end breast cancer!