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U.S. Postal Service Agrees to Rep. Waters’ Request for a New Alzheimer’s Stamp

December 1, 2017

Stamp Will Promote Public Awareness and Raise Funds for Research

WASHINGTON — In response to a request and advocacy by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee and Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, the U.S. Postal Service held a ceremony yesterday to dedicate a new Alzheimer's Semipostal Fundraising Stamp.

"I am pleased that the Postal Service has responded to my request to adopt a new Alzheimer's Semipostal Fundraising Stamp," said Congresswoman Waters. "The new stamp will promote public awareness and raise funds for medical research for this tragic disease, which affects more than five million Americans and has no effective treatment."

Congresswoman Waters introduced the Alzheimer's Research Semipostal Stamp Act (H.R. 2973) on June 21, 2017, to require the Postal Service to issue a semipostal stamp promoting Alzheimer's awareness and research. The bill is supported by 130 Members of Congress representing both political parties. Semipostal stamps cost slightly more than traditional stamps in order to allow the public to donate to worthwhile causes.

On July 1, 2016, Congresswoman Waters wrote a letter urging the Postal Service to issue an Alzheimer's stamp as the first stamp under its discretionary authority. This letter was signed by a bipartisan group of 41 Members of Congress under the leadership of Rep. Waters; Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease; and Task Force Member John Garamendi (D-CA).

The Alzheimer's stamp is now the first stamp issued under the Postal Service's discretionary program, just as the Congresswoman had requested in her letter.

The price of the Alzheimer's stamp includes the First-Class Mail single-piece postage rate in effect at the time of purchase plus an additional amount to fund Alzheimer's research. The additional funds raised will be distributed to the National Institutes of Health, where they will be used by medical researchers who are working to find a cure.

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