Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., has cosponsored legislation that would help fund research beneficial to millions of women.

Senate bill S. 1256 would reauthorize the Breast Cancer Research Stamp for six years. It would require the price of the stamp to be at least 15 percent higher than a first class stamp and would increase the cost by five cent increments in order to ensure significant revenue is generated.

The Breast Cancer Research Stamp is the first of its kind to raise funds for a special cause. Since it first went on sale in 1998, the stamp has raised $19 million for breast cancer research nationally.

Breast cancer is considered the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in every major ethnic group in the United States between the ages of 15 and 54. It claims one woman's life in the United States every 15 minutes.

"More research is imperative to help change these statistics," said Enzi. "The funds this stamp would generate will work to do that."

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. Senator Craig Thomas is also a cosponsor of the bill.

Enzi plans to attend the Komen-Wyoming Race for the Cure Pasta Party on Aug. 17 at the Governor's Mansion in Cheyenne. The pre-race event begins at 5 p.m. and is in honor of race sponsors, volunteers, honorary chairs and survivors. The event is open to the public and those interested in attending can purchase tickets for $20 at Foot of the Rockies in Cheyenne until noon on Aug. 17.

The Race for the Cure begins at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Capitol in Cheyenne. Registration for the race is $20 and begins at 7 a.m. in front of the Supreme Court in Cheyenne on Capitol Avenue.