Turning advocacy into progress for children with cancer.
Children’s Cancer Cause works to bring the needs of children with cancer, survivors, and families into national policy decisions. Together with Congressional champions, coalition partners, and grassroots advocates, we have helped advance landmark legislation and federal research investments that support better treatments, access to care, and life after cancer.
These achievements reflect years of collaboration, persistence, and the power of families and survivors who share their stories and speak up for change.
Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act | 2026
Signed into law on February 3, 2026, the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act strengthens the incentives and requirements that drive pediatric drug development. It extends vital research incentives and strengthens accountability for completing required pediatric studies.
The law includes provisions of the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act, giving the FDA authority to penalize companies that fail to fulfill their pediatric study requirements—a long-standing priority of Children’s Cancer Cause. This achievement advances our work toward newer, safer, and more effective treatments for children with cancer.
Learn more about the Give Kids a Chance Act →
Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act | 2026
Children with cancer sometimes need to cross state lines for specialized treatment or a clinical trial. For families relying on Medicaid, duplicative provider screening and enrollment requirements can delay time-sensitive care.
Signed into law on February 3, 2026, the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act creates a streamlined, optional pathway for eligible providers to enroll in multiple state Medicaid programs. Children’s Cancer Cause joined partners and advocates in supporting this bipartisan effort to reduce administrative barriers and help children reach the care they need.
Learn more about the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act →
Childhood Cancer STAR Act | 2018; Reauthorized 2023
The Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act established a comprehensive federal commitment to childhood cancer research and survivorship. It expands research opportunities, strengthens efforts to track childhood cancer, and supports work to improve survivors’ quality of life.
Children’s Cancer Cause helped draft the original legislation, signed into law in 2018. We also chaired the Alliance for Childhood Cancer’s survivorship workgroup, which helped develop the survivorship provisions of the reauthorization signed in January 2023. The reauthorization extended the law’s authorization of $30 million annually for another five years, providing a foundation for continued progress.
Learn more about the Childhood Cancer STAR Act →
RACE for Children Act | 2017; Implemented 2020
The Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) for Children Act changed how certain cancer drugs are studied for children. It requires pediatric studies of new adult cancer drugs when their molecular targets are relevant to childhood cancers, including qualifying drugs that previously benefited from an orphan-drug exemption.
Children’s Cancer Cause worked with childhood cancer stakeholders and congressional champions to help turn these recommendations into law. Signed in 2017 and fully implemented in 2020, the RACE Act created an important pathway for evaluating promising targeted therapies for children.
Learn more about the RACE for Children Act →
Increased Funding and Sustained Support for Childhood Cancer Programs
Scientific progress depends on sustained investment. Through our coalition work and grassroots advocacy, Children’s Cancer Cause has helped make the case for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute (NCI), alongside dedicated childhood cancer research programs.
These collective efforts have contributed to important funding victories, including a $353 million increase for NCI in fiscal year 2022. The fiscal year 2026 funding package provided approximately $7.3 billion for NCI and maintained $30 million for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and $50 million for the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative. These investments support research into treatments, survivorship, and the data needed to accelerate discoveries for children with cancer.
Help Build the Next Achievement
Every policy victory begins with people willing to speak up. As we work to protect research investments, improve access to care, and address the lifelong needs of survivors, your voice can help move the next priority forward.
Get involved with our current policy work: