Take action on end-of-year legislative health package
You can now help ensure that the needs of kids with cancer are included in an end-of-year health package that Congress is working on this week.
There are three pieces of legislation that we've been working on with colleagues in the childhood cancer community and with champions on Capitol Hill throughout this Congressional session -- and this is the last chance to see them passed and signed into law:
Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act
This legislation aims to improve access to care for children with cancer that are enrolled in Medicaid. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (H.R. 4758/S. 2372) recognizes that children may need to receive care from providers outside their home state and simplifies the Medicaid out-of-state provider enrollment process.
The bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously in September, and it has tremendous bipartisan support with more than 120 House cosponsors and more than 40 in the Senate. Take action to help get it over the finish line.
Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act
The House of Representatives also passed legislation in September that included provisions of the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act, a bipartisan bill to strengthen the development of childhood cancer drugs. This bill gives the FDA the authority it needs to ensure that legally required pediatric studies are completed in a timely way. Currently, they can only do this in drugs for adult studies.
Including the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act (H.R. 6664/S.4905) bill in an end-of-year package before the 118th Congress ends will help speed therapies to children who need them by making needed changes to these pediatric drug laws. Ask Congress to help make it happen.
Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0
The Kids First Data Resource Center was established in 2014 and funds much-needed research on rare childhood cancers, birth defects, and other rare pediatric diseases.
Over the past decade, Kids First has generated $88 million in pediatric research investment. Without funding renewal, these crucial projects may stall or be abandoned altogether. Once passed, this bill would fund approximately $190 million for childhood cancer and disease research.
For this bill to pass, two Senators in particular need to hear from constituents in support – Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky and Utah's Sen. Mike Lee. If you know someone who lives in Kentucky or Utah who would take a few minutes to send a pre-scripted email, it could make all the difference! Please send them here to take action.