There were five pieces of legislation that had gained a lot of support across both the House and the Senate over the past two years thanks to the collective efforts of the childhood cancer community and our legislative champions:
- ACCELERATING ACCESS TO CARE ACT: Streamlines out-of-state treatment for children on Medicaid.
- GABRIELLA MILLER KIDS FIRST RESEARCH ACT 2.0: Extends research funding authorization for another seven years.
- GIVE KIDS A CHANCE ACT: Supports pediatric studies on new cancer drug combinations.
- INNOVATIONS IN PEDIATRIC DRUGS ACT: Imposes financial penalties on drug companies that fail to complete required pediatric studies.
- PRIORITY REVIEW VOUCHER PROGRAM Reauthorization (Creating Hope Act): Extends through 2029.
Our community worked very hard to on a final push to ensure Congress would adopt these policy priorities before adjourning for the year—policies that would have helped children with cancer, families, and seniors. There was a lot of political drama last week, and we are deeply disappointed that many of our top federal priorities didn’t make it across the finish line this session. While passage of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act to extend funding for critical pediatric cancer research was a positive step forward, lawmakers cut the remaining critical bipartisan policies from the spending package that would have benefited childhood cancer patients and their families.
CAC2 Supporting Organization LLS is spearheading an effort and inviting all in the community to call on Congress to make children with cancer its number one priority when it reconvenes in January. There are two ways you can support this effort:
- Sign the Call to Action: Here is the state that we recommend all of our members sign onto: https://lnkd.in/eerbrGK3
- Promote the Effort on Social Media:
X:
This year, Congress left kids with cancer behind. xx organizations joined together to urge Congress to prioritize them in January. Children with cancer have waited long enough–it’s time to finish the job. full statement: https://msg.lls.org/3BOeIGc
Facebook:
We are deeply disappointed that Congress left kids with cancer behind in its end-of-year package. But we’re not giving up. Tonight, we—and xx other organizations—are urging the 119th Congress to prioritize them in January. Children with cancer have waited long enough–it’s time to finish the job. full statement: https://msg.lls.org/3BOeIGc
Supporting Image:
The following organizations (CAC2 Members in bold) have already endorsed this statement. Please join them:
American Childhood Cancer Organization
American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation
Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation
Association for Clinical Oncology
Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses
Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers
Battlecorn Packages
Cancer Support Community
Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation
Children’s Cancer Cause
Dana–Farber Cancer Institute
Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy, Inc.
Hope for Stomach Cancer
Kids v. Cancer
Kolte & Brave Ronil Foundation
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
MACC Fund
Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Making Headway Foundation
MIB Agents Osteosarcoma
Mithil Prasad Foundation
National Brain Tumor Society
NMDP (formerly National Marrow Donor Program)
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation