Help Turn Awareness into Action for

Metastatic Breast Cancer Thrivers this October

Even though the U.S. federal government is shutdown, VBCF's advocacy work has not stopped. Members of Congress can still sign on to cosponsor bills during the shutdown. That is why we are continuing to contact Virginia's Congressional delegation and asking them to support VBCF's top national legislative priority, H.R. 2048: The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act. 

H.R. 2048 would eliminate the arbitrary waiting periods for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (5 months) and Medicare coverage (24 months) for those living with metastatic breast cancer. Waiving these waiting periods would allow patients to access the health care they RIGHT AWAY and help lessen their stress and financial burden. As of this writing, the bill has 157 bipartisan co-sponsors—a great feat in this very polarized Congress!

Seven down, 4 to go!

VBCF is happy to report that our advocacy work this year has resulted in 7 of our 11 Virginia U.S. Representatives signing on to co-sponsor HR2048: Representatives Beyer (VA-8th); Cline (VA-6th); McGuire (VA-5th); McClellan (VA-4th); Subramanyam (VA-10th); Vindman (VA-7th); and Walkinshaw (VA-11th). We only have 4 more Representatives to go! Let's make it happen in October!

The four Virginia Representatives that have not yet cosponsored The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (H.R. 2048) this year are:

• Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-9th)
• Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-2nd)
• Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3rd)
• Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-1st)

The good news is that all these legislators have cosponsored The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act during the last Congress. So, they are familiar and supportive of the bill and likely just need a nudge to sign on again this year. Your outreach, as a constituent can make the difference!

TAKE ACTION!!

If your US. Representative is on the list above, ask them to co-sponsor

H.R. 2048 Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act:

1) Use NBCC's Action Center to send an email to your legislators easily.

Just enter your mailing address and the Action Center tool does the rest! 

Make it Personal: You can add details to the preset email language - make sure to tell your legislator why this matters to you.

2) Call your legislator's office. 

The NBCC Action Center will also provide your legislator's phone number. Make a quick call to their office to tell them you are a constituent and want them to support this bill. Your message can be this brief:

"I am a constituent of Representative X from (your city). I am calling to ask the Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 2048, The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act. This bill is important to me as a (breast cancer survivor/patient/advocate) because metastatic breast cancer should not have to wait to get access to benefits they have earned and the health care they need."

SAVE THE DATE: 1/29/26

Mark your Calendar! VBCF will host the 2026 State Breast Cancer Advocacy Day at the General Assembly in Richmond on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Stay tuned for more information.

Questions? Contact Kirsta Millar

kirsta@vbcf.org or 804-285-1200 ext. 203.