On Friday, October 23rd, NCJW was an invited guest of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr Jill Biden, to a White House event marking October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Both Dr Biden and Mrs. Obama spoke to the assembled audience and press and were joined by three female breast cancer survivors, Venus Ginés, Joni Lownsdale, and Vernal Branch.

Each spoke about their unique experiences and challenges with the current health care system and called for reform. One discussed how as a small business owner, she could not purchase coverage on the open market because any previous diagnosis of cancer is considered a pre-existing condition, while another talked about being underinsured because she has preventative coverage, but if she suffered a reoccurrence, treatment would not be funded. All gave very compelling reasons why comprehensive health care reform must not penalize people for a pre-existing condition, and must encourage preventive care, curative research, and coverage for all.

The event was held outdoors at the White House in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden with a stage set up just in front of a garden trelis decorated with large, pink ribbons to honor the occasion. Many women’s organizations and cancer fundraising, advocacy, and survivor organizations were present. Members of Congress, including Reps. Steve Israel (D-NY), Lois Capps (D-CA), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Rosa Delauro (D-CT), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) attended and enthusiastically applauded when the First Lady mentioned Congressional action around breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.

Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, who, like many of the people in attendance, is a breast cancer survivor, has introduced the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, a bill that would initiate a national education campaign about the threat that breast cancer poses to all young women, and highlight the increased risks for certain ethnic groups, including the Jewish community.  NCJW is proud to support the EARLY Act, and the Congressional and grassroots efforts to detect, treat, and eliminate breast cancer. NCJW is proud to have been in attendance to call attention to this critical issue.