07/17/08 - Senate Clears Bill To Increase Research Into Childhood Cancers

The Senate cleared Wednesday a bill that would increase research into childhood cancers after a key GOP senator decided not to object.

The bill (HR 1553) was cleared by voice vote and will head to the president for his signature.

The House passed its bill on June 12.

The bill would authorize $30 million per year from fiscal 2009 to 2013 to support pediatric cancer research institutes, establish a childhood cancer database and provide information about the diseases to affected families.

The bill is named for Ohio Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce's daughter Caroline Pryce Walker, who died of cancer in 1999 at age 9.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said he would not object to a bill he said was on the "wrong path."

Coburn said, "With reservation, I will not object to this bill, but I must say that we are going down the wrong path. We are penny wise and pound foolish." He said that the bill carries emotional weight but is "scientifically stupid" and would actually hurt pediatric cancer research efforts.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee had passed its own version of the pediatric cancer bill in November (S 911). But the bill did not advance because an anonymous senator had placed a "hold" on it, preventing its easy passage.