October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

NEWS RELEASE    ---     From the Office of Representative Shelley Keeney - 156^th District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	CONTACT:    Rep. Shelley Keeney
October 6, 2011	(573) 751-5912

October is National  Breast Cancer Awareness Month

You may have noticed a huge amount of “pink” around lately: in newspaper ads, on cereal boxes and other food items, doctor’s offices, even NFL teams are sporting the color in varying degrees.  All this pink is for a very good reason -- PINK is the color for Breast Cancer Awareness and October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

It is a very good time to focus on this very serious disease, why it occurs and how to stop it. During this time, national public service organizations, professional medical associations and government agencies work to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease and provide greater access to screening services.

Several measures pertaining to breast cancer in our state have been enacted into law.  The General Assembly modified certain policies relating to the expanded coverage for the treatment of breast cancer through Senate Bill 27 in 1995.  More specifically, the legislation made changes to the limits on deductibles, lifetime maximum benefits, and the administration of these benefits.

That same bill also made changes to state law regarding coverage of mammograms.  All individual and group health insurance policies providing coverage to any Missourian would be required to provide benefits or coverage for low-dose mammography screenings for any women covered under their policy.

House Bill 1093, passed in 2002, allows Missourians to apply for a special breast cancer awareness license plate.  Proceeds from these special plates go toward screening, treatment, and follow-up services.   In 2008, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1105, which created a check-off box on the Missouri individual and corporate income tax forms for contributions to the breast cancer awareness trust fund, encouraging monetary donations for breast cancer services.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer rates decreased by about two percent between 1998 and 2007.  Deaths from breast cancer have decreased too, likely from earlier detection and advances in treatment.  Changes in policy can’t be the only thing responsible for this decrease, but I believe that the efforts made by state lawmakers over the last decade have had a positive influence on today’s Missouri citizens and on the future of medicine.

I can say to you, wholeheartedly, that, as technology and science continue to make advances in the realm of breast cancer research, the Missouri General Assembly will continue to work to promote awareness, treatment, and overall health

Columbus Day

The first recorded celebration of Columbus Day (Christopher Columbus) in the United States took place on October 12, 1792.  Organized by the Society of St. Tammany, also known as the Columbian Order; it commemorated the 300th anniversary of Columbus' landing in America.

The 400th anniversary of the event  in 1842 inspired the first official Columbus Day holiday in the United States. Years later, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation in 1892, “recommending to the people the observance in all their localities -- the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America…” and describing Columbus as “the pioneer of progress and enlightenment.”

Since then, school programs, plays and community festivities have been organized across the country in celebration of Columbus Day.  The World's Columbian Exposition (or otherwise known as the Chicago’s World’s Fair), which opened in the summer of 1893, was designed to commemorate Columbus’ discovery of the New World.

In the decades that followed, the Knights of Columbus organization lobbied state legislatures to declare October 12 as a legal holiday.  Colorado was the first state to do so on April 1, 1907 and New York followed suit in 1909.  President Franklin Delano Roosevelt designated Columbus Day a national holiday in 1934.

Since 1971, when Columbus Day was designated the second Monday in October, it has been celebrated as a federal holiday.  In many locations across the country, Americans hold parades to commemorate the day.

There has been several fun activities lately -- Bollinger County Fair, Madison County Fair, Pioneer Days in Marquand – hope you were able to join in.  Don’t forget about the upcoming Ozark Heritage Festival in Piedmont and the 150th Madison County Civil War Re-enactment at Fredericktown.

Please let me know if you would like to receive my weekly updates via electronic E-Mail, by sending an email with your name to: Shelley.Keeney@house.mo.gov

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns about state government.  Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-5912.  You may write me at: Shelley Keeney; Missouri House of Representatives; State Capitol -- Room 313; 201 W. Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806 or email me.