WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Act, sending the bill to the president’s desk for enactment. The STAR Act, which was co-sponsored by 370 House members and also passed the Senate unanimously earlier this year, represents the most comprehensive childhood cancer bill to ever be introduced in Congress.
If signed by the president, the bill would increase transparency and expand opportunities for childhood cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It would also focus on survivorship by expanding research into the long-term side effects of childhood cancer and its treatments.
Today’s passage in the House comes roughly one month after the more than 230 participants from 35 states met with their lawmakers in support of the STAR ACT as part of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer’s annual Legislative Action Day.
A statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows:
“Congress gave childhood cancer patients, survivors, and their families a major victory today by passing the STAR Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. With cancer continuing to be the leading disease-related cause of death among children under the age of 19, we’re pleased to see Congress elevate pediatric cancer research as a priority issue this year and believe enactment of the STAR Act will greatly improve research, treatment, and outcomes for children with cancer.
“On behalf of ACS CAN, I want to thank the bill’s sponsors for their dedication to this critical legislation. And, most importantly, I want to thank the patients, survivors and their families who worked so tirelessly to make passage of this legislation a reality. Federally-funded cancer research is the engine behind ongoing progress in the fight against cancer, including pediatric cancer. There is no doubt the STAR Act will greatly assist and propel cutting edge research efforts moving forward.”