Pryce Receives Susan G. Komen Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation recognized Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH-15) with the Komen Champion of Change Award™ at its fourth annual public policy luncheon March 9th in Washington, D.C.  The Komen Champion of Change Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to advancing the interests of minorities and the medically underserved by expanding access to quality health care. 

“The battle to end cancer is daunting and frightening, but we must continue to assemble our armies and fight the disease on behalf of all our loved ones we have lost along the way and for our future generations.  It is for them that we cannot stop searching for a cure,” said Pryce.    

“The continued work of Congresswoman Deborah Pryce to advance breast health initiatives for the medically underserved has helped to bridge the ‘bench-to-bedside’ gap and ensure that all women get the quality cancer care they deserve,” said LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., M.D., chairman of the board of directors, the Komen Foundation. “The Komen Foundation believes that a true breast cancer cure won’t be found in the lab alone, but rather, it will require that the cure is available to every patient who needs it, regardless of race, creed or socioeconomic status. We applaud Congresswoman Pryce for her extraordinary efforts in the fight against breast cancer.”

Congresswoman Pryce is a Co-Chair of the bipartisan House Cancer Caucus and a key congressional leader in passing legislation to improve cancer treatment and to increase funding for cancer research.  During the past year, the Congresswoman authored and shepherded through the House several legislative initiatives that have been signed into law by President Bush, including legislation that will ensure children with life-threatening illnesses like cancer have access to the best care and treatment available, and legislation that will provide Medicare coverage of breakthrough oral medications for seniors fighting cancer.  She is also the author of legislation that would require health plans to pay for the routine care costs when a cancer patient enrolls in a clinical trial. 

Congresswoman Pryce is founder of Hope Street Kids, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to eliminating childhood cancer through advocacy, education and cutting-edge research, and to helping support children with cancer and their families during and after treatment.

Since her first election in 1992, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce has quickly risen through the ranks in Congress. In November of 2002, her colleagues elected her to the position of Republican Conference Chairman for the 108th Congress, making Congresswoman Pryce the highest-ranking Republican woman to ever serve in the United States House of Representatives.

“As a policymaker, I will work to continue to implement sound policies that will benefit cancer patients by encouraging research, knocking down barriers that stand in the way of delivering quality care, and putting in place the best tools available to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer,” said Pryce.    

Other 2004 Komen Foundation public policy award recipients are the Honorable John and Deborah Dingell, who received the Connie Mack Lifetime Achievement Award, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, who received the Komen Women’s Health Advocate Award.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established more than 20 years ago by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died of breast cancer at the age of 36.  Today, the Komen Foundation is an international, grassroots organization with more than 100 Affiliates in the United States, as well as in Germany, Greece and Italy. The Komen Foundation, together with its Affiliate Network, has provided nearly half a billion dollars in grants since its inception, making it the nation’s largest private funding source for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs. For more information, please visit www.komen.org.