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Press Release

Upton Works to Fight Child Cancer, Signs onto Bill to Expand Research
Rep. signed Cancer Promise last July pledging increased funding for cancer research

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee with jurisdiction over the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, is currently pushing legislation to fight childhood cancer.  Upton recently signed on to the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2007, H.R. 1553, which targets federal resources and research against the cancers afflicting children nationwide, and elevates our nation's prioritization of pediatric cancer through additional funding, improved treatment, and more centralized, accessible information.  Earlier this year, Upton pressed the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt, to devote greater resources to the nation's cancer research programs.  The measure sets aside $30 million each year for a five-year period. 

"We are united in our efforts to eradicate the number one cause of death by disease for American children," said Upton.  "Sadly each year, over 12,000 children are diagnosed with cancer and more than 2,000 of these young lives are lost.   This important legislation will give a voice to the thousands of children and families in the nation who have been touched by childhood cancer and will give the thousands of physicians, nurses and scientists the tools they need to find a cure for this terrible disease.  We have a responsibility in Congress to ensure that cancer research is a national priority and that we set aside the necessary resources to fight the disease."

The legislation encourages and expands the support for biomedical research programs of the existing National Cancer Institute-designated multi-center national infrastructure for pediatric cancer research.  It will establish a population-based childhood cancer database to evaluate the incidence trends of childhood cancers and to enable the investigations of genetic epidemiology in order to identify causes to aid in development of prevention strategies.  In addition, the legislation will provide informational services to patients and families affected by childhood cancer.

The legislation also supports the development, construction, and operation of a comprehensive online public information system on childhood cancers and services available to families and establishes a fellowship program in pediatric cancer research to foster clinical and translational research career development in pediatric oncologists in the early stages of their career.  It will also foster research careers for pediatric oncologists and make resources available for patients and families affected by cancer.

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