SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE® ADVOCACY ALLIANCE APPLAUDS SELECTION OF SENATOR TOM DASCHLE FOR SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

WASHINGTON, D.C.(Nov. 20, 2008) – The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance today applauded the reported selection of former Senator Tom Daschle to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Komen Advocacy Alliance noted that Daschle has long been a leader on health care issues, and has co-sponsored a number of bills over the years related to breast cancer.

"Senator Daschle's knowledge of both health care and Capitol Hill will be vital to prospects of enacting comprehensive health care reform," said Hala Moddelmog, president of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "This is a critical time in our country and in the war on cancer. It is important that we work together towards our common promise to save lives.

"As the voice of the 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. today, we look forward to working with Senator Daschle and Congress on a range of health care issues. We owe it to our children to increase our investments towards discovering the cures. And we owe it to our neighbors to show a similar commitment to close the gaps in health care access that exist today."

A nationwide survey commissioned by the Komen Advocacy Alliance earlier this year found that more than 90 percent of voters want the federal government to pay more attention to breast cancer research, screening and early detection and access to quality care for all. A majority of voters (62 percent) believe breast cancer is the most critical health problem facing women today. This is also true among low-income, minority and underserved populations surveyed, which are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, Komen has invested $1 billion to fulfill its promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. To continue this progress, Komen for the Cure has pledged to invest another $2 billion in the next ten years.