The Give Kids a Chance Act was reintroduced to the US House of Representatives by Representatives Michael McCaul and Anna Eshoo.

Nancy Goodman, CEO of Kids v Cancer said, “Adults with cancer get new combinations of targeted therapies because combinations are the best chances for cures. Why don’t children have the same chances?

“The Give Kids a Chance Act will save kids’ lives. It won’t cost taxpayers a dime. It is a bipartisan bill and passed in the House last year. This should be easy to pass, right?”

“Children should be given the same opportunity as adults to beat cancer, full stop,” said Rep. McCaul. “It has been the highlight of my career to fight for a better future for children with cancer, and the Give Kids A Chance Act is another large step in the right direction. I’m proud to re-introduce this bill, which would help save lives for years to come.”

“Today, cutting-edge cancer treatments involve a combination of drugs to improve health outcomes for adults, but there is limited research on how these therapies can help children,” said Rep. Eshoo. “Our legislation will authorize the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to direct drug companies to conduct pediatric cancer trials on combination therapies. We’ve come long way, and this bill will ensure children have access to the newest and most effective treatments to treat and cure cancer.”

Nancy Goodman continued, “The Give Kids a Chance Act amends the RACE for Children Act, passed by Congress in 2017. Whereas the RACE Act provides that new targeted cancer therapies be studied in children’s cancers, the Give Kids a Chance Act provides that combinations of targeted cancer therapies be studied in children’s cancers.

“It is critically important for therapies to include combinations of new drugs because often single-drug therapies, even of new drugs, do not work.”

“The most powerful voices of pediatric cancer are the kids themselves.  Over 200 kids – patients, survivors and siblings – have met with Congressional offices as part of Kids v Cancer’s Climb the Hill days to discuss their experiences of pediatric cancer. Kids will continue to ask Congress to pass the Give Kids a Chance Act