Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Mike Kelly (R-PA) is designed to better coordinate federal efforts to utilize advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the diagnoses, treatments, cures, and prevention strategies for pediatric cancer.
“Since I founded the Childhood Cancer Caucus 17 years ago, advancements in technology have radically expanded the frontiers of healthcare,” said Rep. McCaul, who co-chairs the caucus. “We owe it to our nation’s children to leverage cutting-edge AI to improve their care and treatment options.”
The congressman on July 9 sponsored the Accelerating Innovation (AI) for Kids with Cancer Act, H.R. 9632, alongside caucus co-chairs and bill cosponsors Rep. Kelly and U.S. Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) to hasten the use of AI toward improving and transforming pediatric cancer research, treatment options, and data storage.
“Congress should always consider new, innovative ways not only to treat cancer, but to defeat cancer. This legislation would leverage artificial intelligence to strengthen patient care and patient outcomes,” Rep. Kelly said. “I’m proud to sponsor the bipartisan Accelerating Innovation in Medicine for Kids with Cancer Act as we work to ensure pediatric cancer patients and their families have every tool at their disposal to receive the care and cures they deserve.”
Under H.R. 9632, the president would appoint a Coordinator of AI Innovation, who would serve as a member of the Domestic Policy Council, and be tasked with identifying opportunities to accelerate the progress of AI-driven solutions at the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative.
“I am proud to support this effort to accelerate innovation, strengthen the Childhood Kelly Data Initiative, and move us closer to ending cancer as we know it,” said Rep. Bera.
The bill also aims to ensure that AI innovation is appropriately integrated into current work on interoperability to maximize the potential for electronic health records and claims data to inform private sector and academic research and clinical trial design, according to the bill’s text.
“By empowering AI to continuously drive research forward, we move one step closer to beating this heart-breaking disease once and for all,” said Rep. McCaul.