U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) on June 5 introduced a bipartisan bill to permit the United States Postal Service (USPS) to sell its current Alzheimer’s research stamp for six more years.
“By allowing Americans to continue to purchase Alzheimer’s research stamps, our legislation will build on this funding to support the NIH’s efforts to combat this devastating disease,” said Sen. Collins, chairman of the U.S. Senate Aging Committee.
“As we commemorate June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, let’s renew our commitment to this cause. Let’s work toward the day when patients and their families can more easily receive an early assessment and diagnosis or access the care and support services they need. And let’s make this a national priority until the day we can celebrate the first person cured of Alzheimer’s,” wrote Sen. Capito in a Fox News opinion column published on June 6.
Sens. Collins and Capito last week cosponsored S. 1728 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) to extend sales of the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp, which the USPS began selling on Nov. 30, 2017, according to the text of the bill.
Under the current Semipostal Authorization Act, the USPS is authorized to issue five semipostal stamps for 10 years, with each stamp being available for up to two years.
“In order to afford a convenient way for members of the public to contribute to funding for medical research relating to Alzheimer’s disease, the Postal Service shall continue to sell the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp for a 6-year period beginning on the date on which the Postal Service would have discontinued sales of the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp,” according to the text of the bill.
S. 1728 is now under consideration by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.