Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Tom Halkin
617-393-2849
thalkin@braintumor.org
Alliance for Childhood Cancer Celebrates Reintroduction of the Childhood Cancer STAR Act in the 115th Congress
Organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children with cancer applaud the bipartisan bills’ sponsors and advocate for quick action to move it through Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 3, 2017) – The Alliance for Childhood Cancer, representing more than 30 national patient advocacy groups and professional medical and scientific organizations invested in advancing the interests of children with cancer, is excited to announce that today the Childhood Cancer STAR (Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research) Act has been reintroduced in the 115th Congress as H.R.820 in the United States House of Representatives and S.292 in the United States Senate. If passed, it will play an important role in treating and improving outcomes for kids with cancer.
The Childhood Cancer STAR Act is the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever taken up by Congress. It represents important bipartisan legislation designed to advance pediatric cancer research and child-focused cancer treatments, while also improving childhood cancer surveillance, and providing enhanced resources for survivors and those impacted by kids’ cancers. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act of 2015 (H.R. 3381, S. 1883) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in the closing days of the 114th Congress, but did not clear the Senate before the end of the session.
“Children with cancer are our most vulnerable patients and more must be done to advance research that will help unlock new therapeutic strategies that will save lives as well as improve the quality of life and survivability for pediatric cancer patients,” said Danielle Leach, co-chair of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer and senior director of government relations and advocacy at the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “We firmly believe that the Childhood Cancer STAR Act puts a number of policies in place that will accomplish our collective goal of accelerating the pace of progress against childhood cancer. This promise of this critical piece bipartisan legislation was nearly delivered on in 2016, and now we must take advantage of this opportunity to ensure this act becomes law in 2017, so it can begin to help the more than 15,780 children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. every year.”
The Alliance for Childhood Cancer is grateful to the bills’ original sponsors: Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) as well as Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), for their leadership and commitment to kids with cancer.
The Alliance also applauds the efforts of volunteers, advocates, and member organizations who have helped make this bill possible, including American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Childhood Cancer Organization, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, the Association of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Nurses, Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers, B+ Foundation, Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy, Children’s Oncology Group, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Children’s Cancer Society, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Sarcoma Foundation of America, Society of Pediatric Psychology, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Alan b. Slifka Foundation, American Brain Tumor Association, American Pediatric Surgical Association, American Society for Radiation Oncology, Cancer Support Community, Chai Lifetime, Children’s Oncology Camping Association- International, Kids V Cancer, KOA Care Camps, Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation, National Brain Tumor Society, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, Patient Advocate Foundation and the Rally Foundation.
As the number one cause of death by disease for kids in the U.S., childhood cancer is a major health issue. One in five American children diagnosed with cancer will not survive their disease, and of those who do, 80% will suffer from serve lifelong deficits and complications related to their cancer and treatments. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act is a critical next step in furthering children’s cancer research efforts.
To learn more about the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, please click here.
About the Alliance for Childhood Cancer
Founded in 2001, the Alliance for Childhood Cancer is a forum of over 30 national patient advocacy groups, and medical and scientific organizations. These organizations meet regularly in Washington DC, to share ideas and concerns and work collaboratively to advance policies leading to improved research, public education, and diagnosis, treatment, supportive care and survivorship for children and adolescents with cancer. For more information visit www.allianceforchildhoodcancer.org
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