An effort by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, to expand funding for pediatric cancer research and treatment culminated this week with President Donald Trump signing the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Act into law.
The bipartisan measure — introduced by McCaul — allocates up to $30 million annually to establish a national childhood cancer registry, authorize grants for state cancer registries to track childhood cases, expand research on residual effects of childhood cancer to improve survivors’ life quality, and require the National Cancer Advisory Board to include at least one pediatric oncologist.
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“It’s the most comprehensive childhood cancer bill ever passed by Congress, and it’s just a very … gratifying experience to be able to pass a bill that you know is going to have a direct impact on the lives of kids with cancer,” McCaul told the American-Statesman.
Cancer is the leading cause of death among children in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. More than 15,000 children were diagnosed with cancer in 2017.
The STAR Act is McCaul’s third childhood cancer bill to be signed into law:
• He authored the Creating Hope Act of 2011, a voucher program that provides incentives to pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs for children with rare diseases.
• Trump signed McCaul's RACE for Children Act in August, which gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to have adult cancer drugs studied for safety and effectiveness in children.
McCaul and Sadie Keller, an 11-year-old cancer survivor and advocate from Dallas, joined Trump at the White House Tuesday as he signed the bill. Sadie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when she was 7 years old, and received her final round of chemotherapy in May 2017.
Sadie, who founded her own childhood cancer advocacy foundation, has worked with McCaul to raise awareness about pediatric cancer and push legislation at the nation's Capitol. She advocated for the STAR Act and the RACE for Children Act.
“I just feel so amazing and happy that this law is finally passed, and something that I want to do is just help all those childhood cancer fighters like I was,” Sadie said.
Sadie pointed to the bill’s emphasis on survivorship, and said she hopes it will help childhood cancer survivors deal with lingering side effects of chemotherapy.
“I know that it will help so many more kids who are battling cancer right now and are out of options, and kids who in the future will be diagnosed with cancer,” she said.
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