The Senate Introduces The Give Kids a Chance Act
The House of Representatives Passes the CR Without The Give Kids a Chance Act
Tuesday, March 12, 2025,
Kids v Cancer is thrilled and disappointed to announce that yesterday, the Give Kids a Chance Act was introduced in the Senate but not included in the House continuing resolution (CR) to fund the budget.
Senate Introduces the Give Kids a Chance Act, S 932, HR 1262
We thank Senators Markwayne Mullin and Michael Bennett for introducing the Give Kids a Chance Act, S 932 yesterday. Senators Mullin and Bennett have a long and proud history of helping children with cancer. We also want to thank their staff: Nathalie Burkhalter, Santiago Gonzalez, Jacqueline Incerto and Erin Doty.
The Give Kids a Chance Act combines two critical initiatives for drug development for children with cancer — the original Give Kids a Chance Act and the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act.
Today, thousands of successful drug combination therapies are being developed for adults with cancer. But children with cancer care only get trials of one new drug at a time. The original Give Kids a Chance Act removes regulatory hurdles and authorizes the FDA to direct companies to study combinations of cancer drugs for kids as well. The Give Kids a Chance Act ensures children can have the same chance as adults of new cures.
The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act provides for incentives for companies to develop drugs expressly for kids with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. This law has resulted in over 60 new drugs for kids with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses since it was first passed in 2012, yet Congress let it expire in December!
The Give Kids a Chance Act does all this without costing taxpayers a dime
The House did not include the Give Kids a Chance Act in yesterday’s CR
The Give Kids a Chance Act had been included in last December’s CR until it was cut as as a result of Elon Musk's tweets. Congress had another chance yesterday, when the House of Representatives passed the next CR. But, to our disappointment, the Give Kids a Chance Act was not included.
We call upon the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the Give Kids a Chance Act as quickly as possible with what legislative options are left – a House suspension vote and a Senate unanimous consent vote.