October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition has named Gov. Josh Shapiro its 2025 Pink Ribbon Honoree.
But even as he accepts that honor, Shapiro is calling for cuts in breast cancer screenings as part of the ongoing state budget impasse.
According to a letter to county commissioners obtained by DVJournal, the Shapiro administration listed quarterly funding for breast cancer screenings as one of the programs to be paused until a budget deal is reached.
The program totals $1.8 million annually, and as of Friday, Oct. 3, $270,000 in payments have not been released.
State Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), a breast cancer survivor, said she understands firsthand the importance of early detection. Ward said her own diagnosis of Stage 1 breast cancer came after a delayed mammogram during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we honor survivors and promote early detection as part of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is unfortunate and shocking that Gov. Josh Shapiro has chosen to withhold funding for quarterly breast cancer screenings,” Ward said.
“We all know someone who has had breast cancer or been affected by this deadly disease. In fact, one in 8 women is diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, which is more than 14,000 women in Pennsylvania each year. We also know, Gov. Shapiro included, that if caught early, there is more than a 90 percent cure rate. That is why I’m disappointed and confused as to why the governor chose to withhold the funds for life-saving screenings for women.”
Sen. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) echoed Ward’s frustration.
“The Senate passed last year’s budget again on Aug. 12—not as the final product, but to open the coffers and keep money flowing to critical programs while the budget impasse continues,” said Farry. “The House rejected it the next day and walked away, leaving Pennsylvanians to pay the price. We wouldn’t even be talking about cuts to breast cancer screenings if they had simply done their job.”
Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) said she was disappointed that partisanship has become part of the conversation.
“I am hopeful we will come to an agreement on the budget soon,” Pennycuick said. “In August, the Senate passed a budget at last year’s level as a first step. The state could have immediately begun disbursing nearly $47.6 billion to counties, schools, hospitals, and funding for advanced breast cancer screening—without the need for any new taxes—while we worked on a full budget.
“Unfortunately, some chose to make this very important process political,” she added.
Pennycuick noted that Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder for everyone to get screened. “No one should put off care or ignore warning signs,” she said. “I’m proud to once again partner with the PA Breast Cancer Coalition and southeastern YMCAs in my district to provide information about knowing your risks and early detection.”
Democrats, however, pushed back against the Republican criticism.
“Critical program funding like this will restart when State Senate Republicans stop playing politics by purposefully prolonging this process and come back to work, find agreement with the State House, and send a budget to the governor’s desk,” said Shapiro’s spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky. “Because of the Senate Republican’s refusal to find agreement and pass a budget, there is no General Appropriations bill to give authority to make these important payments.
“The governor introduced his budget plan 244 days ago, and Senate Republicans have been in session just 30 days since then. There is no excuse for their inability to pass a budget with $11 billion sitting in the bank – it’s past time for them to do their jobs and send a budget to the governor’s desk for signature,” said Lapowsky.
“Women’s health care, including access to breast cancer screenings, has always been a priority for Speaker (Joanna) McClinton (D-Philadelphia) and the House Democratic Caucus,” said Nicole Reigelman, a spokeswoman for McClinton. “We’re proud to have passed landmark legislation in 2023 to ensure universal access to breast cancer screenings for at-risk women and men, and that it was the first law signed by Gov. Shapiro during his tenure.”
Reigelman said the delay lies with Senate Republicans, not the governor.
“The budget presented by Gov. Shapiro in February and passed with bipartisan support in the state House in July included funding for breast cancer screenings for Pennsylvanians,” she said. “However, the Senate Republican leaders’ refusal to compromise is delaying this vital funding from reaching those who need it.”
GOP lawmakers call that a dodge.
“The bottom line is that the governor’s budget called for almost $4 billion in new spending at the same time our Commonwealth is facing a $3.5 billion deficit,” said Pennycuick. “We simply cannot afford the governor’s proposal, and unlike the federal government, the state must balance our budget.”
And Ward added, “I am calling upon the House of Representatives to put up a vote on the budget we sent them in August, which includes funding for breast cancer screenings, or request Gov. Shapiro to release the funds for quarterly breast cancer screenings.”
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition did not comment for this report.