McCaul Hosts 15th Annual Childhood Cancer Summit, Announces Committee Passage of Historic Bill

Washington, D.C. - This week, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) hosted the 15th annual Childhood Cancer Summit alongside his caucus co-chairs, Representatives Mike Kelly (R-Penn.), Ami Bera M.D. (D-Calf.), and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.).

"I founded the Childhood Cancer Caucus in 2009 to give children with cancer a voice on Capitol Hill. This summit is a celebration of their lives, a testament to their strength and courage, and a reminder of all the great things we've accomplished in the past 15 years. Working to protect these beautiful children from the number one killer - cancer - has been the highlight of my career. It's an honor to partner with so many advocates, my caucus co-chairs, and these courageous children as we work together to make cancer history."

At the summit, McCaul announced his bill - the Give Kids a Chance Act, which includes the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act - was passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee with unanimous support.

"The House Energy and Commerce Committee's unanimous passage of this bill underscores its importance and reminds us there is nothing partisan about this fight. I authored this legislation to give pediatric cancer patients exactly what they deserve - every possible chance to beat this heartbreaking disease. Despite our caucus' great accomplishments, there is still work to be done, and I am optimistic that this bill will continue to advance cutting-edge treatments for children until we've eliminated cancer as a threat to all children."

Background:

Rep. McCaul's Creating Hope Reauthorization Act incentivizes pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs for rare pediatric diseases, such as childhood cancers, that have not been developed in decades because they are not profitable. Since the bill's passage in 2012, 53 Priority Review Vouchers have been awarded for 39 rare pediatric disease treatments. Of these diseases, many typically lead to death before the children reach adulthood, and only three had any FDA-approved treatments before 2012. The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act of 2024 would reauthorize the Creating Hope Act - which expires this September - for another five years.

Thanks to Rep. McCaul's RACE For Children Act, passed in 2018, many successful adult drug therapies are now being studied and developed for children as well. In May, Rep. McCaul introduced the Give Kids a Chance Act, which would build on that success by authorizing the FDA to direct drug companies researching combination drug therapies for adults to also research that combination therapy for children if it's biologically similar.

###