ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 6

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 12, 1997

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably Assembly Resolution No. 6.

      This resolution memorializes the President and Congress of the United States to support legislation sponsored by Senator Torricelli and Congressman Frelinghuysen and other supplemental legislation that provides funding for research into the causes of high breast cancer rates in New Jersey.

      New Jersey has the second highest breast cancer mortality rate in the nation and an overall incidence rate of breast cancer that is 11.2% higher that the national rate. Funding for breast cancer research is also disproportionately low in New Jersey compared to neighboring states. In addition, New Jersey has the highest number of federally designated toxic waste sites in the nation. This federal legislation would provide $10.5 million for research into the causes of New Jersey’s high breast cancer rates, including research on the connection between environmental factors and genetic susceptibilities and the incidence of breast cancer in the State.