House Affirms Pryce’s Resolution to Fight Pediatric Cancer

November 14, 2007

Pryce Hails Senate Progress on Childhood Cancer Legislation
Senate HELP Committee Approves Pryce-Authored Pediatric Cancer Bill

Washington , DC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus) applauded the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee as it unanimously approved S. 911, the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, legislation sponsored by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). Pryce is the author of the House bill, H.R. 1553.

Said Pryce after the Senate panel’s passage of the bill, “This legislation brings us one step closer to a goal universally shared by all of humanity -- the eradication of pediatric cancer. I am thrilled with the Senate Committee’s approval of this bill and appreciate Senator Reed’s strong leadership on it. Given the Senate’s actions today, and the broad, bipartisan support the bill has in the House, I am optimistic that Congress will soon give pediatric cancer the attention and resources it so desperately needs.”

Of death by disease, cancer is the number one killer of children under the age of fifteen. The bill targets federal resources and research dollars against the cancers afflicting children nationwide, and elevates our nation’s prioritization of pediatric cancer through additional funding, improved treatment, and more centralized, accessible information for researchers and families.

Pryce is a Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus, and in September, the House approved Pryce’s resolution (H.Res.470) affirming Congress’s commitment to increasing federal support in the fight against pediatric cancer . She is the author of the Access to Cancer Therapies Act, the Compassionate Care for Children Act, and the Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act. In 2006, Pryce was awarded the Distinguished Advocacy Award from the American Cancer Society (ACS) – the ACS’s highest honor --for her efforts and advocacy in the fight against cancer.

H.R. 1553 has 161 cosponsors in the House.

The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2007:

Centers of Excellence for Childhood Cancer Research: This legislation enhances and expands biomedical research programs in childhood cancer through an existing National Cancer Institute-designated multi-center national infrastructure.
Childhood Cancer Clinical Research Fellowship Program: The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act establishes a new fellowship program through the National Institutes of Health to help foster the training and development of a new generation of clinical investigators focused on pediatric cancer research.
National Childhood Cancer Research Database: It will establish a population-based childhood cancer database to evaluate the incidence trends of childhood cancers and to enable the investigations of genetic epidemiology in order to identify causes to aid in development and implementation of prevention and treatment strategies.
Outreach and Education for Pediatric Cancer Patients and Families: In addition, the legislation provides for education and information services to patients and families affected by childhood cancer to ensure they are aware of and have access to appropriate clinical treatment as well as the array of needed support services.
Authorization of Appropriations: $30 million annually for 5-fiscal year period.

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