Pryce Receives “Champion of Women’s Health Award”from Health Care Advocacy Groups

July 17, 2008

Senate Approves Pryce’s Pediatric Cancer Bill

The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act Cleared for the White House
Law Will Ramp up Federal Investment in Childhood Cancer Research and Awareness

Washington, DC – Last night, the United States Senate approved H.R. 1553, the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, legislation authored by Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (OH-15) to dramatically increase federal investment in childhood cancer research. The bill, an historic step in the fight to eradicate pediatric cancer, was approved unanimously in the House on June 10th, and now heads to the White House where President Bush is expected to sign it into law.

“This is an incredible day for the thousands of children and families who are fighting for their lives against these dread diseases,” said Pryce. “We may very well look back at this day as the decisive turning point in a war that has caused incalculable pain, suffering and death among our children. Today, brave children around the planet have been provided tremendous hope – a commitment from their government that they will not fight this battle alone.”

Pryce lauded the broad bipartisan support for the bill in both Houses, and thanked Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) for their advocacy and leadership on the Senate side. “I am immensely grateful to Senators Reed and Coleman who worked tirelessly to garner support from both sides of the aisle, and ensure that this measure made it to the Senate floor for consideration,” said Pryce. “There are so many heroes who have worked for years to make this day possible – the researchers, oncologists, and advocacy groups around the nation who effectively impressed upon their legislators the tremendous need for this bill. But, in the end, it was the children suffering from pediatric cancer who are responsible for the bill’s success. Their ferocious courage in fighting these diseases amid inadequate federal resources convinced Congress that this is a battle we can win together.”

Among other things, the bill authorizes $30 million annually over five years to hasten advancements in pediatric cancer research. It creates a national database on childhood cancers to help researchers detect trends in the diseases, and provides educational and informational services to patients and families to ensure they have access to appropriate clinical treatment and the array of vital support services. During markup of the bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the legislation was renamed the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008, in honor of Pryce’s daughter, Caroline, who lost her valiant battle against neuroblastoma in 1999 at the age of nine.

Thanks, in no small part, to increased awareness and advocacy, a diagnosis of pediatric cancer is no longer the death sentence it once was. While the incidence of cancer in children has increased slightly over the past 30 years, the mortality rate has declined dramatically for many childhood cancers. The combined 5-year survival rates for all childhood cancers improved from 56% in the 1970s to 79% in the 1990s. Similarly, just 50 years ago, pediatric cancer cure rates sat at 10%; today, they are at nearly 80%.

Pryce is a Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus. She is the author of 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. In 2006, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital honored Pryce with membership into The James Leadership Society, the highest recognition bestowed on supporters of the hospital.

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