Ann Wagner: “Today I rise in support of legislation that begins making strides toward enhancing our ability to combat some of the…”

“Today I rise in support of legislation that begins making strides toward enhancing our ability to combat some of the toughest diseases of our time--the 21st Century Cures Act. From improving the development and approval process of drugs and devices, to bettering our ability to diagnose and treat diseases like Alzheimer's and diabetes, this legislation will have a positive impact on countless lives. I further applaud provisions in the bill that address mental health issues and opioid abuse, both crises that tear families apart in my home district of St. Louis and across our Nation. However, I also rise today to say that passing this bill must not be the end of our efforts, but, rather, the beginning--the beginning as we look towards a better day for thousands of children fighting against pediatric cancers. Mr. Speaker, the 21st Century Cures Act legislation outlines that rare and pediatric diseases and conditions should remain a biomedical research priority. While the bill provides an additional $4.8 billion to the National Institutes of Health, I see little that suggests a sufficient amount of this money will be dedicated to pediatric research and care. This past October, I had the opportunity to tour the Cardinals Kids Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis and meet with families affected by pediatric cancer, including the Leslie family. The Leslies' son, Caleb, was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, when he was just 10 years old.…”