[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     GABRIELLA MILLER RESEARCH ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, Washington can get things 
done. It may not be all the time, but over the last year we have been 
able to make constructive progress on an array of issues. Had it not 
been for Members on all sides of the aisle coming together, looking 
past party labels, and working on what is important, this would not 
have been the case.
  Last week on Thursday, April 3, President Obama signed into law an 
important piece of legislation that represents one of those points of 
progress.
  In December of last year, the House passed bipartisan legislation to 
shift $126 million--money previously used to finance national political 
conventions--to the National Institutes of Health, where it will now 
support research into childhood cancer and other pediatric diseases, 
including Down syndrome, cancer, autism, and the countless other 
diseases that affect our children that don't yet have a cure.
  In March of 2014 the Senate passed the legislation, again with 
bipartisan support. That bill--now law--was the Gabriella Miller Kids 
First Research Act. There have been many critical research 
breakthroughs over the past decade. As a result of this new law, 
millions of additional dollars will be put towards research in an 
effort to develop treatments and cures for pediatric disorders and 
diseases. Today, more are on the horizon, and with passage of this law, 
they will be upon us that much more quickly.
  As most are aware, Gabriella Miller passed away from cancer, an 
inoperable brain tumor, in October of 2013. Gabriella, before her 
passing, stated: ``If I go, if I lose my battle, then I'm going to want 
other people to carry on with the war. They are going to win this 
war.''
  Mr. Speaker, although there is much more to be done, with the passage 
of this act, this body took one small step in that direction. Through 
this new law we honor the legacy of a brave and spirited young girl who 
left a mark on the Nation and the world. Let us continue to fight this 
battle on behalf of so many boys and girls in similar positions. My 
prayers are with Gabriella and her family.

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