St. Baldrick's Foundation Announces the Childhood Cancer STAR Act was Approved by the House and Now Moves to the Senate

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The St. Baldrick's Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, is excited to announce that the Childhood Cancer STAR (Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research) Act has passed the House of Representatives and is now moving on to the Senate. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act is an important bipartisan legislation designed to advance pediatric cancer research and child-focused cancer treatments, while also improving childhood cancer surveillance, and providing enhanced resources for survivors and those impacted by kids' cancers.

"This is a big victory for the childhood cancer community working together to create change," said Danielle Leach, MPA, senior director of government relations and advocacy at the St. Baldrick's Foundation. "We are grateful to our House champions, Representatives Michael McCaul, Chris Van Hollen and Jackie Speier, for their leadership and commitment to kids with cancer. Now it's time for the Senate to take action this week and make childhood cancer and the STAR Act a priority. Our St. Baldrick's community of supporters, volunteers and advocates are committed to conquering childhood cancers with their support."

As the number one cause of death by disease for kids in the U.S., childhood cancer is a major health issue. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act is a critical next step in furthering children's cancer research efforts, as well as accomplishing St. Baldrick's mission to conquer kids' cancers.

"I wish I could help kids who didn't survive cancer like I did. My friend died of the very same type of cancer I had, but no one knows why," said 11-year-old Jake Cunniffe, St. Baldrick's Honored Kid and son of Amy Cunniffe, Principal at Ernst & Young's Washington Council. "If the Senate passes the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, it will help kids survive cancer like I did."

The Childhood Cancer STAR Act focuses on enhancing the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors, improving childhood cancer surveillance; and moving critical childhood cancer research forward. With the Act having passed the House this week, it has now moved on to the Senate, with only three days remaining for it to get passed.

In coordination with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer and the larger childhood cancer community, the St. Baldrick's Foundation is collaborating in a grassroots campaign to encourage our Senators to pass the Childhood Cancer STAR Act. You can go to the St. Baldrick's Foundation's social media pages to learn more about how your voice can be heard by Congress, including calling your congressmen directly and visiting SoundOffAtCongress.org to share your opinion.

For more information about St. Baldrick's involvement in leading advocacy efforts for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, or to join the Speak Up For Kids' Cancer movement, visit www.stbaldricks.org/advocacy. To learn more about St. Baldrick's, visit www.StBaldricks.org, and connect on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Vimeo.

About St. Baldrick's Foundation
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick's Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick's funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to innovative explorers who bring with them the promise of a future free from childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them. Join us at StBaldricks.org to help support the best cancer treatments for kids.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/296104LOGO

SOURCE St. Baldrick's Foundation

Related Links

http://www.stbaldricks.org