Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Week Two
It is hard to believe that we are almost halfway through Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! Every week in September, we’re sharing some of the most notable items we’re seeing from around the childhood cancer community. This post brings you the highlights from the week of September 6th-12th.
POLICY NEWS: CREATING HOPE REAUTHORIZATION ACT PASSES OUT OF HOUSE COMMITTEE
The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act out of Committee on Wednesday, agreeing to extend the program by four more years. The bill now needs to be voted on by the full House - and the Senate.
The Creating Hope Act, originally passed in 2012, incentivizes the pharmaceutical industry to develop pediatric cancer drugs that are otherwise cost-prohibitive.
Without speedy Congressional action, the program expires on September 30, 2020. Assuming that Congress will be unable to reach an agreement on the full FY2021 spending package by October 1st, we urge Congress to include extension funding in an upcoming Continuing Resolution.
Join us in asking Congress to reauthorize this program, which brings us closer to curing childhood cancers.
VIRTUAL DAY OF ACTION: COMMUNITY JOINS TOGETHER TO ASK CONGRESS TO FULLY FUND THE STAR ACT
The Children's Cancer Cause joined the Alliance for Childhood Cancer in a 'Virtual Day of Action' on Wednesday, September 9th.
In July, the House of Representatives passed a bill that included full funding for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act for a third year. This week, the community came together to call on Congress to finalize this funding so the programs created by the STAR Act can move forward for another year.
Thank you to the many advocates who sent letters to Congress! It’s not to late to add your voice to the cause: Write Congress here.
AWARENESS FEATURE:
Nonprofit Purple Songs Can Fly has made its award winning documentary film Journey to Hope available for viewing on YouTube for the remainder of the month, in honor of childhood cancer awareness. View the film here.