WASHINGTON, D.C.–If you have a child with cancer, or any type of pediatric condition, you should know that some of your tax money that was previously going to fund the Democrat and Republican national conventions may now be going to research to help find a cure.
Cong. Greg Harper (R-Miss.) has been pushing the U.S. Senate to pass the House’s Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which he introduced, along with Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vermont).
It passed the Senate Tuesday by unanimous consent.
The bill now heads to the president for his signature to become law.
“As the father of a special needs child, I understand fully the challenges facing families raising kids with medical difficulties,” said Harper, whose 24-year-old son lives with Fragile X Syndrome. “This bill appropriately places kids first by prioritizing research for our country’s most vulnerable children.”
“Instead of funding these conventions once every four years, we’ll make it a daily priority to explore the full potential of clinical trials and advancements, not only for childhood cancer, but for all pediatric conditions, even the most rare genetic diseases,” he said.
Harper said legislators had already voted to cut the subsidy for conventions.
The bill is named after a young girl from Virginia who lost her battle to brain cancer when she was 10. Gabriella Miller became a leader of this movement with moving videos and inspiring speeches, in which she vowed, “If I go – if I lose my battle – I’m going to want all the people to carry on with the war, and we’re going to win this war,” said a press release from Harper.
“Sending this bill to the president is a fitting tribute to Gabriella’s legacy,” Harper continued. “I urge the president to sign the bill without hesitation.”
