CAC2 Member Blog–Don’t let HOPE die in the US Senate!

By CAC2 Member Joe Baber

If the Creating Hope Act (S. 4010) does not pass the Senate by December 11, THIS YEAR we will lose the best tool we have ever had to inspire drug developers to produce Childhood Cancer and Rare Pediatric Disease drugs. This bill has produced 26 drugs in the last eight years, including two childhood cancer drugs.

This is half of the four drugs ever approved specifically for childhood cancer.

Because of the incentives in this bill, for the first time, we now have several kids’ cancer drugs in development.  We cannot allow this bill to die on the Senate floor!  The House passed a version of this bill on September 30, but so far, only two of our 100 Senators have cosponsored the Senate version.  It will die if it doesn’t pass by December 11.

I urge each of you to follow the steps below.  Do it NOW! Please call today.

STEP 1:  Call each of these Senator Leaders and urge them to pass the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act S. 4010. 

• Senator Mitch McConnell (202-224-2541)
• Senator Chuck Schumer (202-224-6542)
• Senator Lamar Alexander (202-224-4944)
• Senator Patty Murray (202-224-2621)
• Senator Sanders (202-224-5141)
• Senator Warren (202-224-4543)

Here is the message to leave: 

Please do not allow the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act – S. 4010 to die on your watch. We only have four drugs specifically approved just for childhood cancers which are not the same as adult cancers. Please help get this bill passed before December 11th!

 STEP 2:  Target the H.E.L.P. Committee Members with calls and tweets and urge them to pass the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act S. 4010. 

The second step must follow quickly after the first step.  We have less than 30 days. We want Members of the Senate H.E.L.P. Committee to understand the importance and urgency of our request.  Please involve your friends, family, neighbors and followers!  Call each Senator’s office, their phone numbers are listed below. If you get the answering machine instead of a live person, leave a short message like this:

Please do not allow the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act – S. 4010 to die on your watch. We only have four drugs specifically approved just for childhood cancers which are not the same as cancer in adults. Please cosponsor today!

Tweets are very quick and effective too!  All you need to do is copy the message below, add a Senator’s twitter handle (listed below), and press “tweet.”

After 8 successful years, please don’t allow the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act-S. 4010 to die on YOUR watch! We only have 4 drugs specifically approved just for #ChildhoodCancer. They are not the same as adult cancers. Please pass S. 4010!  [NOTE:  Add only one Senator’s twitter handle from below here.]

Senate H.E.L.P. Committee Members below must pass the bill before the Senate can vote on it.

Thank you! Please share this information with all your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers. Our children do not have a voice in the Congress, but YOU do!

With appreciation to our friends and partners at Four Square Clobbers Cancer for allowing us to share this blog post (which featured an earlier version of Joe Baber’s message).  We encourage you to visit FSCC and read more compelling stories and opportunities for action in the childhood cancer community.  Sharing is caring.