Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025
The Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 (H.R. 1262) is comprehensive legislation that includes provisions from four bills that were cut in the last Congress: the Give Kids a Chance Act, the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act, the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act, and the RARE Act.
This legislation aims to remove barriers in pediatric drug development and speed therapies to children who need them by incentivizing pediatric research and making needed changes to pediatric drug laws.
In the 119th Congress, this bill was introduced by Rep. Michael McCaul alongside Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) and Randy Weber (R-Texas).
Provisions of this bill include:
The Creating Hope Act, which incentivizes critical pediatric research by expanding the FDA priority review voucher program. Its funding expired at the end of 2024 due to Congressional inaction, and the Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 would reauthorize the voucher program until 2029.
The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act, to ensure pediatric studies for possible new treatments are completed on time by making needed improvements to the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) and the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA);
The Give Kids A Chance Act, which allows researchers to study combinations of new cancer drugs, potentially unlocking new cures for kids; and
The RARE Act, which clarifies Congress’ interpretation of the Orphan Drug Act to ensure pediatric drug research and development isn’t locked out from newly approved drugs that don’t impact pediatric populations.
Please join us in asking your Members of Congress to cosponsor this critical bipartisan legislation - because kids deserve better and have waited long enough.
Additional info about this legislation:
Press Release from the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus
Alliance for Childhood Cancer Endorsement Letter (February 2025)
Children’s Cancer Cause Blog: Ask the new Congress to prioritize childhood cancer
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