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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 10, 2016 01:04 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas R. Caltagirone |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Fund a Cure for Pediatric Cancer |
| As you are probably aware, I have introduced House Bill 746 and House Bill 1804, both would raise much needed funds for pediatric cancer research in Pennsylvania. Today I am circulating this cosponsor memo for the third bill in my efforts to fund a cure for pediatric cancer. Under my new bill we will allocate $10 million dollars in tax credits to businesses, much like the EITC program, per year for the next 10 years. Over the next ten years we can allocate $100 million dollars to fight pediatric cancer. Each of our four pediatric cancer research institutions will receive $25 million toward their research. Each of my bills will give our citizens the option to invest in a cure for pediatric cancer: HB 746 would provide citizens an opportunity to purchase a vehicle license plate for $50; HB 1804 will give our citizen the option to donate $5 or more on their state income tax form; and this new legislation will provide companies paying Pennsylvania taxes the opportunity to allocate those tax dollars to pediatric cancer research. I am confident the citizens of the Commonwealth will step up and help fund a cure. I am hopeful that the State that cured polio can cure pediatric cancer. The pediatric cancer numbers are staggering: *7, number of children that will die today from pediatric cancer. *46, number of children that will be diagnosed with cancer today. *1 in 5, the number of children that will eventually die from cancer. *Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children ages 1-14. *8, average age of death for a child with pediatric cancer. *Over the last 20 years only 1 new cancer drug has been approved for pediatric use. *4%, the percentage of funds directed toward pediatric cancer research by the National Cancer Institute. *4, number of research institutions in Pennsylvania working on cutting edge research to develop better treatments and ways to combat cancer in our kids. Recently, I toured research facilities at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Research Hospital and the constant theme among the research doctors was the need for funding. The lack of research funding for pediatric cancer is still the main obstruction to finding a cure and better treatments. Only 4% of all cancer research dollars goes to pediatric cancer research and we need to step up and do more for the pediatric cancer warriors and their families. The pain and suffering of our children demand us to act and go “all in” for the cure. Let’s work together to build a brighter future for the children of Pennsylvania whose lives and families have been torn apart by this terrible disease. The President, in his State of the Union Address, put forward a vision to find a cure to cancer, let us take the necessary steps to do our part; and, let Pennsylvania be the state that finally finds a cure so that thousands of children no longer have to spend their young lives in a hospital bed. I believe our investment of $100 million dollars over the next ten years will lead to a cure! Please join me in the fight against pediatric cancer. |
Introduced as HB1865