{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-murkowski-reintroduce-bill-to-give-metastatic-breast-cancer-patients-a-fighting-chance", "Murphy, Murkowski Reintroduce Bill To Give Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients A Fighting Chance", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.) on Thursday reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would give metastatic breast cancer patients access to support and medical care well before the current law allows.The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act would waive the five-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the 24-month waiting period for Medicare benefits for eligible individuals with metastatic breast cancer. U.S. Representatives Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.-02) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.-14) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cPatients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer shouldn\u2019t have to wait months or even years to get the support they need to fight this horrible disease. Many die waiting for benefits. Our bill would get rid of these unnecessary waiting periods so patients can focus on getting the care they need as soon as they need it, without having to worry about red tape,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cFor many women living with metastatic breast cancer, waiting five months for disability insurance or two years for Medicare coverage simply isn\u2019t an option, they need support now,\u201d said Murkowski. \u201cCancer takes an enormous toll on patients and their families, and it\u2019s just common sense to expedite these benefits so women can access help when it\u2019s most urgently needed. Women\u2019s health and the fight against cancer have long been top priorities of mine, and I\u2019m proud to partner with Senator Murphy on legislation that offers real relief to those battling this devastating disease. And to all women 40 and older, please remember to get your annual mammogram \u2014 early detection saves lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cWomen and men with metastatic breast cancer live an average of three years after their diagnosis. These individuals\u2014already facing enormous physical, emotional, and financial burdens\u2014 are dying while waiting for earned benefits they are entitled to under the law,\" said Fran Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC). \"Speaking on behalf of the tens of thousands of NBCC advocates across the country, we are grateful to Senators Murphy and Murkowski for their bipartisan leadership to end this arbitrary waiting period. We stand with them to move this bill into law.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-murkowski-reintroduce-bill-to-give-metastatic-breast-cancer-patients-a-fighting-chance"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9487689714878798, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}