Children afflicted by cancer are one step closer to having the resources they need to battle their disease. On May 9, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed H.R. 1553, which was also renamed the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH) and the name change was in honor of Pryce’s daughter, Caroline, who lost her battle against neuroblastoma at age 9.

“I am thrilled with the continued progress of this bill,” said Pryce of the committee’s passing of the bill. “I am increasingly optimistic that Congress will soon give pediatric cancer the attention and resources it so desperately needs.”

Cancer is the No. 1 disease killer of children under the age of 15. The bill would authorize $150 million over five years to develop grants for research fellowships in pediatric cancer, to fund a population-based national childhood cancer database and to award grants to childhood cancer organizations to raise public awareness, ensuring access to the best available therapies for pediatric cancers.

The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration. Companion legislation (S.911), sponsored by U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), was unanimously approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee last November.

From The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Advocacy Update

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