Pryce Resolution Reaffirms the
Fight against Childhood Cancer
House vote coincides with Gold Ribbon Days in Washington
Washington , DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution (H.Res.323) authored by Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus) supporting efforts to increase childhood cancer awareness, treatment and research.
“Each day, two classrooms of children are diagnosed with pediatric cancer,” said Pryce, “and an estimated 2,000 will die from it this year. America has a proud history of courageously fighting for noble causes around the globe, but few causes could be more righteous than winning the fight against this dreaded disease.”
“While much progress has been made over the last several decades, much work remains. Cancer still claims the lives of a great number of our children. Until we can celebrate the day when every child can live a life free of cancer, we must continue to promote awareness and strengthen our investment in childhood cancer research to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.”
“This resolution says to the children and their families who are waging their own battles against pediatric cancer that Congress will continue to work to harness our nation’s vast resources and optimize public policy to aid you in your struggles.”
This week, Washington hosted the 6th Annual Gold Ribbon Days – a week in which children, families, health care professionals and advocates gather in the nation’s capital to raise awareness about pediatric cancer. On Wednesday, Congresswoman Pryce participated in a rally on the Capitol steps where children and families detailed their bouts with cancer, offered hope and encouragement to each other, and raised public consciousness about the pediatric cancer struggles currently endured in communities all across our nation.
Said Pryce at the rally, “To these children who are fighting their own battles with cancer, we offer support. To these families who have lost their children to cancer, we offer compassion. And these children who are cancer survivors – they offer us all hope.” At last year’s Gold Ribbon Days celebration, Pryce was honored for her dedication to increasing federal funds for childhood cancer research.
Pryce is Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus . She is the author of the Access to Cancer Therapies Act, the Compassionate Care for Children Act, the Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act, and the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, and is founder of Hope Street Kids, a nonprofit charity dedicated to pediatric cancer research.
H.Res.323 resolves that Congress should support:
(1) public and private sector efforts to promote awareness about the incidence of cancer among children, the signs and symptoms of cancer in children, treatment options, and long-term follow-up;
(2) increased public and private investment in childhood cancer research to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, post-treatment monitoring, and long-term survival;
(3) policies that provide incentives to encourage medical trainees and investigators to enter the field of pediatric oncology;
(4) policies that provide incentives to encourage the development of drugs and biologics designed to treat pediatric cancers;
(5) policies that encourage participation in clinical trials;
(6) medical education curricula designed to improve pain management for cancer patients; and
(7) policies that enhance education, services, and other resources related to late effects from treatment.
