IT PASSED!! The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act Passes 416-0 in U.S. House of Representatives! Now the bill only has to pass the Senate.
Here is the information from Kate Shafer, at CureSearch:
Dear Advocates,
Below you will find the Curesearch press release announcing passage of the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008. This success has been the result of many things but the more than 20,000 letters sent by advocates to members of Congress about childhood cancer and this bill have been a key factor. This brings us all one step closer to enacting a law that will make a critical difference to children with cancer.
Thank you for your letters. Please take a moment to thank your Representatives and continue to contact your Senators to urge passage in the Senate.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CureSearch Praises Passage of the "Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act" in U.S. House of Representatives
Children with Cancer and their Families to Benefit from Landmark Legislation
June 12, 2008 (Bethesda, MD) - CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation salutes the United States House of Representatives for passage of H.R. 1553, the "Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act," which promises to significantly increase federal investment into childhood cancer research.
During markup of the legislation, the bill was renamed the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008, in memory of Caroline Pryce Walker, daughter of Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH), who succumbed to neuroblastoma in 1999 at age nine.
The bill authorizes $30 million annually over five years, providing funding for collaborative pediatric cancer clinical trials research, to create a population-based national childhood cancer database, and to further improve public awareness and communication regarding available treatments and research for children with cancer and their families.
"For far too long, children suffering from pediatric cancer have gotten short shrift on federal resources," said Pryce, original author of this groundbreaking legislation.
"The bill we passed today dramatically expands federal investment into childhood cancer research and education, and will make an historic difference in the lives of the more than 12,000 children who will be diagnosed with cancer each year. A nation with our resources, our scientists, our committed doctors and oncologists, and our inherent and insuppressible fighting spirit can and should do more to put an end to so much suffering."
Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), one of the original co-sponsors of the Carolyn Walker Pryce Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, stated that conquering childhood cancer has transcended partisan politics, and addresses a critical national issue that is finally receiving the attention it deserves.
"I am pleased that the House passed this important legislation, which will bring us one step closer to eradicating pediatric cancer," said Van Hollen. "This bill will enhance and expand pediatric cancer research activities at the National Institutes of Health, establish a pediatric cancer registry, and increase informational and educational outreach efforts to patients and families affected by pediatric cancer. No child should have to experience and suffer the effects of cancer, and no parent should have to see their child suffer."
CureSearch supports the life-saving research of the Children's Oncology Group, the world's premier cancer research collaborative. Treating 90% of children with cancer, the Children's Oncology Group includes more than 5,000 experts in childhood cancer research and treatment, located at more than 200 leading children's and university hospitals across North America.
"The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act allows for translation of the very best research discoveries into clinical evaluation and practice, in order to improve the cure rates for all children with cancer," noted Gregory Reaman, MD, Chair of the Children's Oncology Group. "Only research cures childhood cancer. On behalf of my colleagues in the Children's Oncology Group and the children with cancer and their families who are our partners in clinical research, we thank our Congressional leaders."
"On behalf of CureSearch, we applaud the steadfast leadership of Representatives Chris Van Hollen and Deborah Pryce and their colleagues in the House who through the passage of this bill have made finding the cure for childhood cancer an urgent national priority," said Stacy Pagos Haller, Executive Director, CureSearch.
Companion legislation in the United States Senate (S.911), sponsored by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), cleared the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously in November, 2007. The Senate version of the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act currently has 63 co-sponsors; a full Senate floor vote on the bill is expected this summer.
About CureSearch
CureSearch seeks to conquer childhood cancer, conquer it sooner, conquer it fully and for all time. Through public education, advocacy and fundraising, the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3), supports the work of the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the world's premier pediatric cancer research collaborative. This network of more than 5,000 healthcare professionals dedicates their lives to finding answers and sharing results. More than 12,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and more than 40,000 children and adolescents are currently in treatment. Only research cures cancer. For more information, visit www.CureSearch.org.
Thank you to everyone who took time to write, phone, and email your senators and congressmen and women. Together we all made a difference that will help further research to find a cure for pediatric cancer. Now that's worth fighting for!!!
♥♥♥♥♥♥ Kim ♥♥♥♥♥♥
4 comments:
All I can say is EXCELLENT!!!!!
Anne S.
Rising Above
We all get caught up in our lives, then something big comes along and shakes us into a new reality, sometimes we get all caught up in that. Initially it is important to do so. It is important to focus on the necessary actions, and acknowledge the trauma of it all. Trauma can lead to drama if one is not careful. Every challenge is an invitation to step up, to rise above. We can only do our small part, keep focused on our small steps. When our small steps are about larger things collectively, great things can happen.
At times one may be lost and feeling failure, distraught, a "no end in sight" despair. Then something like The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act is passed. It was due in part to your simple steps Kim and asking us to do the same.
Thank you for asking us to rise above, thank you for the opportunities for all of us to be better people. Those opportunities have come from you being open and sharing a very intimate and painful part of your families life. We follow the ups and downs, we cheer and cry, think and reflect, and thankfully, most importantly we act.
We continue to pledge our prayers, our hopes, our energy, our support, our actions.
Thank You Kim
First, the previous comment- so true! Sounds odd to say thank you, but thank you.
And second (as this is my 2nd post anyway)Hannah what a great job you did at the cultural dance perforance! The whole 3rd grade at Cutchogue East put on such an enjoyable show! THANK YOU!
Love and prayers, Anne Salice
Hi Hannah! We are on the road, so I'm not checking the computer much....but every time I do, the Hannah's Cans For Cancer Fund goes up and up!!! Excitement all around...fundraising, the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act being passed, helping your friend Bailey hopefully meet Paula Deen! Thanks for all that you do!
Kim, I couldn't agree more with the anonymous Rising Above comment. Beautifully said!
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