Washington, D.C.—Today the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted to approve the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) act. The bipartisan bill would advance pediatric cancer research and increase transparency and expertise for pediatric cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Additionally, the legislation expands research into the long-term side effects of childhood cancer and its treatments.
A statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), follows:
“We’re pleased by the committee’s demonstrated commitment to proposals that will improve research, treatment and outcomes of children with cancer. Unfortunately, far too many childhood cancers have no effective treatments and remain incurable.
“Today’s markup is an important step toward moving the STAR Act from a promising proposal to an essential law that will help expedite potential new treatments for pediatric cancer.
“On behalf of the 379,000 childhood and adolescent cancer survivors living in the U.S. today, we urge the full Senate to quickly take up and pass the STAR Act.”