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Washington, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) visited Children’s National Hospital to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and highlight the need for the Senate to pass her bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 to boost funding for pediatric cancer research. Wexton visited with children battling cancer to hear their stories and met with nurses, doctors, and hospital administrators.

“I’m inspired by the courage and toughness of the children I met at Children’s National, but it’s just heartbreaking that we’re not giving them the best shot to beat cancer right now,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “With inadequate funding for research of pediatric treatments, these kids are often left with outdated options that are causing them lasting medical complications – and it’s unacceptable. I’m urging the Senate to listen to these kids and pass my bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 to nearly double funding for lifesaving research programs.”

Wexton met young patients ranging from 1 to 9 years old, including a number of whom were on new treatments like the kind funding from Wexton's legislation could help develop. Wexton also spoke with parents and doctors, including the doctor who treated the bill's namesake, Gabriella Miller, before she passed away at age 10 in 2013.

Cancer is the number one cause of disease-related death in children age 14 and younger, and it is estimated that this year alone, more than 10,000 children in the U.S. under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer. Despite this, only about 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget goes towards pediatric cancer research, and as a result childhood cancer remains poorly understood and treatment options can be outdated and ineffective.

Wexton has authored and passed through the U.S. House of Representatives the bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0, which would deliver $25 million a year for lifesaving research of new treatments and cures for childhood cancer – nearly double funding for the Kids First research program. The bill has bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate but has not yet come up for a vote.

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