Political campaign funds transferred to pediatric research under Cole’s measure

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) recently led six of his Republican colleagues in introducing legislation that would extend funding for the Pediatric Research Initiative by terminating taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns.

“I’m proud to introduce the Strengthen the Pediatric Research Initiative Act to redirect this money from political campaigns toward this worthy cause,” Rep. Cole said.

The Strengthen the Pediatric Research Initiative Act, H.R. 546, would prohibit future presidential candidates from using the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (PECF) by eliminating it and transfering all remaining funds to the 10-year Pediatric Research Initiative.

“There is nothing of greater importance than finding cures for childhood cancers and other deadly diseases,” said Rep. Cole. “Although Congress has made significant strides throughout the last decade to provide the funding to find these lifesaving cures, there is much more work to be done still.” 

Rep. Cole sponsored H.R. 546 with 5 GOP original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Ken Calvert (R-CA).

The Pediatric Research Initiative, created in 2014 by the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, supports pediatric research, with a focus on childhood cancers, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Cole’s staff, and has been funded by prohibiting political parties from withdrawing funds from the PECF for their nominating conventions and then transferring those funds to the Pediatric Research Initiative. 

Presidential candidates, though, could still use PECF funds for their campaign’s general election spending, though no presidential candidate has used the PECF in a general election since 2008, the summary says, noting that current funding for the Pediatric Research Initiative is close to ending, while the PECF remains unused with a balance of $427 million as of December 2022.