The Honorable Michael Bennet

Which legislative or policy accomplishments are you most proud of that help address the needs of pediatric cancer patients and their families?

“Families in Colorado and across the country face barriers in accessing innovative pediatric cancer treatments and lifesaving care. Researchers and clinicians are battling bureaucratic red tape and inadequate funding in their search for the next cure. In 2017, when Congress passed my legislation, the RACE for Children Act, we took a tremendous step forward in the fight to expand access to cutting-edge treatments by requiring drug companies to study the potential of promising adult cancer treatments for children. I continue to work across the aisle to champion the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, which simplifies out-of-state Medicaid screening and enrollment for pediatric doctors so that kids don’t have to wait to get the treatment they need. Additionally, I have introduced the Give Kids a Chance Act to give children with cancer access to combination therapy trials and incentivize pharmaceutical companies to develop treatments for rare pediatric diseases. Kids battling cancer deserve bright futures. If we do our job, we can help them
realize those futures and end pediatric cancer as we know it.”

How has the tremendous bipartisan support for pediatric cancer research helped make an impact?

“Advancing cures and expanding access to the best possible care for children with cancer shouldn’t be a partisan issue. I have worked closely with my Republican colleagues to champion bipartisan legislation accelerating research and expanding access to care. The bipartisan support for the RACE for Children Act was critical to passing the bill into law. I have also partnered with Senator Markwayne Mullin to introduce the Give Kids a Chance Act. I am hopeful that, despite divisions in Congress, Democrats and Republicans will continue to work together to advance lifesaving legislation that meets the scale of the challenge that children with pediatric cancer face across our country.”

Over the next five years, what do you see as the best opportunities for further improving outcomes for children with cancer in the U.S., particularly in rural or underserved communities?

“Our health care system repeatedly falls short of giving working families the care they need, especially in rural communities. Across our state, I hear from Coloradans forced to drive hours to receive specialized care. We must refocus Congress’s attention on expanding health care access, not cutting it. Extending the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits is critical to ensure all families, including those facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis, have affordable insurance and can get the care they deserve. My legislation, the Medicare-X Choice Act, would create a public health insurance option. It would offer families, individuals, and small businesses affordable health insurance. This would decrease the number of uninsured Americans, help to control the cost of health care, and increase competition in the health insurance market. Every American deserves access to affordable health care.”

What message would you like to share with the scientists, clinicians, and patient advocates working every day to make progress against pediatric cancer?

“Your dedication gives kids across the country hope and a chance to beat cancer and reclaim their lives. In Colorado, we are proud of our world-class hospitals and research institutions that serve as models in pioneering next-generation discoveries. Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado continue to transform the standard of pediatric cancer care and lead groundbreaking clinical trials. We have made great strides in recent years, and we cannot slow down the pace. Further cuts to research funding will only set us back and hinder lifesaving discoveries. I will continue to be a partner at the federal level to restore health research funding and provide the necessary support in the race to save children’s lives.”

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