[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 159 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H8892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            CHILDHOOD CANCER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
families and children everywhere who have been affected by childhood 
cancer.
  This month, September, is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. As I 
think about the meaning behind this month, I realize that childhood 
cancer has had a significant impact on my district in west Tennessee.
  According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, more than 
15,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer each 
year. It is heartbreaking that any family must endure the pain caused 
by childhood cancer.
  Thanks to the countless efforts by doctors, nurses, and researchers, 
the childhood cancer survival rate has now reached over 80 percent.
  Back home, we are fortunate to have state-of-the-art facilities 
dedicated to childhood cancer research with personnel working each and 
every day to see that our children are receiving the best possible 
care.
  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis provides top-notch 
cancer treatment to nearly 7,500 patients from all over the world each 
year.
  From medical personnel to volunteers to families sharing their 
testimonies, my area is filled with many who have dedicated their lives 
to the pursuit of an end to childhood cancer.

                              {time}  1030

  Now, here in Congress, I have supported numerous initiatives to fight 
so that all children have a chance of survival. Most recently, I 
cosponsored and voted for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, which was 
signed into law by President Trump this past summer.
  The great Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude, believed that no 
child should die in the dawn of life. We have come so far to increase 
the odds of survival and recovery. But we won't stop there. I feel 
fortunate knowing that each day we are one step closer to finding cures 
and ensuring that every child has the chance to live.

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