Political Quotes

“I thank my good friend, the ranking member, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone). I rise today in support of the Childhood Cancer STAR Act. Thanks to research funded by the National Institutes of Health, the private sector, and philanthropic funds, we have made progress in the study and treatment of childhood cancers. However, every year, 16,000 children and their families receive that terrible, nightmarish news that their child has been diagnosed with cancer. My constituent Allison Easter-Lara was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma when she was about 2 years old. Throughout her fight, she endured some of the harshest cancer treatments there are, with chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. Allison's dad, Keith, visited my office earlier this year, and he shared a remarkable update. Allison is beating the odds. She is currently in remission and in a phase two drug trial. We must pass the STAR Act because we need more good outcomes like Allison's. This bill will expand childhood cancer research opportunities at the NIH, improve our understanding of cancer as a disease, and work to enhance the quality of life for all survivors. It may be a moonshot, but I believe we can find new treatments and eventually a cure for childhood cancer.”