Congressman McCaul, Lance Armstrong Encourage Senate to Follow House Passage of Childhood Cancer Act

Press Release

Congressman McCaul, Lance Armstrong Encourage Senate to Follow House Passage of Childhood Cancer Act

After years of persistence, fighting alongside the bill's author from the beginning, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX 10) helped the U.S. House unanimously pass the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008, allowing Americans touched by childhood cancer to mark at least one victory in the win column.

Though it must still pass the Senate, the Conquer Child Cancer Act will finally draw attention to and set aside much needed funding to research and conquer the number one killer of our children among diseases.

"We as a country must act with a greater sense of urgency to stop this killer," said Rep. McCaul. "The statistics are enough to frighten any parent and they indicate that cancer shows no sign of loosening its grip on those who are most precious to us. Our children are still more likely to die from cancer than from drownings, fires, poisonings and accidental firearm deaths combined. And if you were to imagine your own child's face associated with any of these statistics, you would begin to understand that the need to cure childhood cancer is unlike any other medical challenge we face."

"The passage of the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008 is a critical step we must take in order to ensure our children and adolescents get the care they need to beat cancer," said Lance Armstrong, Chairman and Founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. "I am hopeful the Senate will follow the House's lead and vote to improve the diagnosis, treatment and survivorship of America's youth suffering from cancer."

The Act will:

* Devote funding to help find a cure for childhood cancer. And it elevates our nation's prioritization of pediatric cancer.
* Establish the National Childhood Cancer Research Database to evaluate the incidence of trends of childhood cancers. This is important because it will allow researchers to identify causes of the most common types of childhood cancer, further enabling them to develop and implement prevention and treatment strategies.
* Provide much-needed outreach and education for families of pediatric cancer patients to make sure they are aware of and have access to appropriate clinical treatment and support services.

"Finally. We've gotten so close every time," said Donna Culliver of Brenham. She and her husband Tim lost their four year old son, Adam, to Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in 2003. McCaul met the Cullivers shortly after their loss while campaigning for Congress for the first time and promised to pursue funding for childhood cancer research.

Upon entering the House, he immediately teamed up with Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH). The bill is named for her nine year old daughter who lost her battle with neuroblastoma in 1999. He has helped garner support for the bill and was invited to the United Nations to speak on the bill's behalf before the World Health Organization.

Congressman McCaul has experienced his own losses to cancer. The disease took his father at the age of 63. He also lost a childhood friend to leukemia in fourth grade.

"It is said that the measure of a person's life is what they did to leave this world a better place," said Congressman McCaul, the proud father of five children. "I believe it is incumbent upon each of us, especially those of us elected to serve, to do our part to rid this world of a disease that does not discriminate, for the sake of my children, yours, and eventually theirs."

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