Skip to main content

Click here to request more information about joining the Alliance for Childhood Cancer.

alert close
search

Legislative Activity

Newsroom

Update on the STAR Act

Dear Childhood Cancer Advocacy Champion:

We wanted to give you a quick update on what is happening with the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Act here in Washington DC.

First, a big THANK YOU for all you have done to get us this far. Many of you came to Washington DC last month to walk the Halls of Congress and gather cosponsors. Your voices were heard, and we are beginning to see the fruits of our labor.

In the House, the bill currently has 21 original cosponsors. Here is the full list:

House of Representatives Original Cosponsors of Childhood Cancer STAR Act

Michael McCaul (R-TX)
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Jackie Speier (D-CA)
Bill Flores (R-TX)
Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX)
Steve Stivers (R-OH)
Michael Capuano (D-MA)
Peter King (R-NY)
Donna Edwards (D-MD)
Rick Nolan (D-MN)
Frederica Wilson (D-FL)
Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)
John Garamendi (D-CA)
Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Barbara Comstock (R-VA)
Marc Veasey (D-TX)
Jim Himes (D-CT)
Katherine Clark (D-MA)

If you see the name of your Member of Congress on the list — CONGRATULATIONS! They heard your story and stepped up to the plate.

If the name of your Member isn’t on the list, don’t fear. That just means there is a bit more work to do.

Our champions have not yet formally introduced the bills. They want to ensure that the bill has strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate to ensure that it will be in the strongest position to be voted into law. Our Senate Champions are engaging in some high level negotiations with several Republican offices and we should have more information soon. The goal is to get the bills introduced before Congress goes away for the August recess.

As soon as we get the bills introduced, we will be reaching back out to you. Many people you met with on the Hill during your visits are supportive, but want to wait until the bill is introduced and gets a formal bill number before they sign on. As soon as that happens, we will let you know so we can do another push for cosponsors.

Things are moving along well. We have a huge amount of support, and based on our conversations, we should be able to add many more cosponsors in the very near future as soon as the bills are introduced.

We will keep you posted. Thanks for all you have done! We know we can count on you to help keep working as we push the Childhood Cancer STAR Act through the legislative process.

2318 Mill Road
Alexandria, VA 22314
MENU CLOSE