North Austin News

U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) hosted the 15th annual Childhood Cancer Summit this week, alongside his caucus co-chairs Representatives Mike Kelly (R-Penn.), Ami Bera M.D. (D-Calif.), and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.).

“I founded the Childhood Cancer Caucus in 2009 to give children with cancer a voice on Capitol Hill. This summit is a celebration of their lives, a testament to their strength and courage, and a reminder of all the great things we’ve accomplished in the past 15 years," McCaul stated. "Working to protect these beautiful children from the number one killer — cancer — has been the highlight of my career. It’s an honor to partner with so many advocates, my caucus co-chairs, and these courageous children as we work together to make cancer history.”

At the summit, McCaul announced that his bill — the Give Kids a Chance Act, which includes the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act — was passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee with unanimous support.

“The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s unanimous passage of this bill underscores its importance and reminds us there is nothing partisan about this fight," he said. "I authored this legislation to give pediatric cancer patients exactly what they deserve — every possible chance to beat this heartbreaking disease. Despite our caucus’ great accomplishments, there is still work to be done, and I am optimistic that this bill will continue to advance cutting-edge treatments for children until we’ve eliminated cancer as a threat to all children.”

The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act incentivizes pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs for rare pediatric diseases such as childhood cancers that have not been developed in decades due to lack of profitability. Since its initial passage in 2012, 53 Priority Review Vouchers have been awarded for 39 rare pediatric disease treatments. Many of these diseases typically lead to death before adulthood, with only three having any FDA-approved treatments before 2012. The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act of 2024 would reauthorize it for another five years.

Rep. McCaul's RACE For Children Act, passed in 2018, has facilitated the study and development of successful adult drug therapies for children as well. In May, Rep. McCaul introduced the Give Kids a Chance Act which aims to build on that success by authorizing the FDA to direct drug companies researching combination drug therapies for adults also research those combinations for children if biologically similar.

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