Childhood cancer remains the number one cause of death by disease in children, with nearly 16,000 children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer last year; bipartisan legislation would help young cancer patients and their families get access to potentially life-saving treatment, support survivors, and move us one step closer to ending pediatric cancer
Legislation is supported by over 50 leading childhood health organizations, including American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to expand research, care, and treatment options for childhood cancer patients. Childhood cancer remains the number one cause of death by disease in children, with nearly 16,000 children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer last year. The Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act of 2015 would help young cancer patients and their families get access to potentially life-saving treatment, support survivors, and move us one step closer to the goal of ending pediatric cancer. The legislation is support by over 50 leading childhood health organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
“With so many children and families across Minnesota and our country courageously battling cancer, we need to step up efforts to expand pediatric cancer research, care, and treatment options,” said Klobuchar. “This bipartisan bill, which is supported by many leading national health organizations, will help give childhood cancer patients and their families hope for a better future and move us closer to the goal of ending pediatric cancer.”
Klobuchar is a leader in the efforts to boost research seeking new cures and make health care for children more accessible. She has consistently pushed her colleagues to support funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which supports research on cancer and other diseases, in budget and appropriations negotiations and has spoken out on the Senate floor about the damage of sequestration to the NIH.
She has also worked to expand health care coverage for children. Klobuchar supported the Medicare Access and Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, which extended health coverage to children who do not qualify for Medicaid and whose families cannot afford private insurance. The passage of this legislation in April 2015 ensured continued health care coverage for more than 8 million children and pregnant women.
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