GIVE KIDS A CHANCE ACT, S 932, HR 1262
Almost Law
December 26, 2024
We were elated on December 17th when Congress included our pediatric cancer drug development bills, the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act pediatric priority review voucher program and the Give Kids a Chance Act, in the federal end-of-year funding bill. We were so close to victory.
But three hours before a scheduled vote, after surprise tweets, the funding bill fell apart. What Congress ultimately passed was a stripped down bill from which the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act, the Give Kids a Chance Act, Accelerating Kids Access to Drugs Act, RARE Act, and Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act, were cut.
We went into action. Social media stories blew up the internet. We were covered by CNN, ABC, MSNBC, STATNews, Newsweek, Rolling Stones, The Bulkward.
We had one more chance. At 11:50 pm on December 20th, the last hour of the 118th Congress, the Senate took up our bills. Senator Rand Paul objected. The vote failed.
Although Congress eventually funded the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Program, we have gone backwards. The pediatric voucher program has expired. There are no paths to new cures for kids with cancer with combinations of new drugs
Part of the 2%?
June 2, 2015
We are still in the long slog: the Give Kids a Chance Act was introduced in both chambers but did not get into the markups we were aiming for in April for reasons entirely unrelated to our bill. The Give Kids a Chance Act also did not get into the reconciliation bill — it was not eligible.
This month, it's a new problem: there is so much bad blood in Congress that bills are not moving. We will have our next opportunity:
— for markups in the House Energy and Commerce Committee and in the Senate HELP Committee,
— for a House suspension vote and a Senate unanimous consent vote, and
— for inclusion in the September continuing resolution to fund the budget.
Meanwhile, we continue to build support for Give Kids a Chance Act by collecting a whopping 190 cosponsors. Give Kids a Chance Act is now one of the top 10 most cosponsored bipartisan bills in Congress.
Only 2% of all bills pass into law. Give Kids a Chance Act must be in that 2% — We ask Republicans and Democrats to come together to protect kids with cancer.
CLIMB THE HILL youth advocacy day. JOIN US
Recent Press on How Pediatric Cancer Bills Were Cut From Congress’ Funding Bill
