Advocacy

Welcome to the New Administration and New Congress

by Campbell Sullivan, a 2021 St. Baldrick’s Foundation Ambassador
January 20, 2021

Our hearts are broken at the loss of Campbell, a 2021 St. Baldrick’s Ambassador. She died on February 22, 2021 due to a brain hemorrhage brought on by CIC-DUX4 Sarcoma. Campbell was remarkable in every way and will always be an inspiration.

Originally posted January 20, 2021

I voted for the first time in November, but this is not my first-time letting Congress know how I feel. In 2018 I lobbied on Capitol Hill with a group of childhood cancer warriors, siblings, and advocates. I shared my story with three members of Congress and pushed for legislation to help kids with cancer. Having gone through treatment for more than three years at this point, I was especially determined to cast my ballot in this year’s presidential election. As a new voter, I am also looking forward to being part of the St. Baldrick’s Speak Up for Kids’ Cancer Network so I can raise my voice for kids with cancer and childhood cancer survivors in the year ahead.

Ambassador Campbell

Today, President Joe Biden is being sworn-into office, and earlier this month, the newly sworn-in 117th Congress began its work. The new Administration and new Congress have countless challenges ahead of them, but history has shown that our lawmakers can do great things for kids with cancer and cancer survivors when we all work together.

Just last month, Congress passed a federal funding agreement that included $80 million specially set aside for childhood cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This funding agreement included $30 million to fully fund the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, the most comprehensive childhood cancer bill in history, for a third consecutive year, and $50 million to fund the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) for a second year. These resources are changing the landscape of childhood cancer research at the NCI.

Child advocates on Capitol Hill

Advocates with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the broader childhood cancer community were involved in every step of the appropriations process to secure this funding increase. Thanks to greater advocacy and awareness, the federal investment in childhood cancer research has nearly doubled in recent years, but we still have much more work to do to develop new, safe therapies for kids with cancer.

Thankfully, the childhood cancer community has a strong policy and advocacy voice with champions on both sides of the aisle. From the leaders of the Childhood Cancer Caucus in the House of Representatives – Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), and Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) – to our champions in the Senate – Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) – the childhood cancer community can count on strong policy support on Capitol Hill.

To the new Administration and new Congress – hello! The childhood cancer community looks forward to working together to fund research for kids with cancer, to improve quality of life for childhood cancer survivors and to find a cure! Let’s get to work!

To join Campbell as a St. Baldrick’s advocate, sign up for the Speak Up network today!

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