U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in introducing legislation that would ensure a fair percentage of federal cancer research funds are dedicated to pediatric cancer research.
Specifically, the Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act of 2025, H.R. 6054, which Rep. Fitzpatrick sponsored on Nov. 17 alongside five original cosponsors, including Rep. Kelly and U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA), would ensure federal cancer research funding for pediatric cancers aligns with the percentage of Americans under the age of 18.
“Pediatric cancer has been chronically underfunded for decades, leaving families with fewer options and slower innovation,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “The Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act rights a fundamental imbalance, accelerates discovery, and ensures we invest in cures designed for the courageous children who do not choose this battle but fight it with a strength few adults could ever imagine.”
Currently, pediatric cancers receive roughly 4 percent of federal cancer research funding despite nearly one-fifth of Americans being under age 18, according to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and childhood cancer remains the leading disease-related cause of death for children in the United States.
“Approximately 16,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year. This legislation invests more in the discovery of treatments and cures that work for these courageous children,” said Rep. Kelly, co-chair of the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus. “The Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act is a giant step toward that goal because it focuses more money on childhood cancer research.”
H.R. 6054 would require that beginning in fiscal year 2026, pediatric cancer research funding would have to match the percentage of Americans under age 18; annual funding levels would have to use official census data; and long-term, stable federal support for child-specific treatments would be required, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
The bill has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.