Congress authorized the release of the stamp in 1997 by approving the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act. None of these bills has come up for vote yet in Congress, but they do have some postal officials concerned. However, proponents of extending the life of the breast cancer stamp and of introducing new semipostals argue that it is wasteful to offer Bugs Bunny stamps and refuse to offer stamps that can raise awareness and increase research funds for diseases.
Postal officials have other complaints about the stamps.
According to Don Smeraldi, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service, it is difficult to choose which organizations to support with the release of a stamp, and which to deny. Even proponents of the stamps don't like the idea of disease advocacy groups competing against each other for the chance to have a stamp. Michael Nilsen, a spokesman for the National Association of Fund Raising Executives in Alexandria, Va., said that some of his group's members worry that diseases without a powerful advocate in Congress will be excluded altogether from the potential benefits of getting stamps. Some health groups agreed that the stamps require too much lobbying in Congress and that those causes without a political champion will be unfairly denied the benefit of a stamp. NO Voice your thoughts, feelings and opinions about this week's news poll on our message board .