[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 190 (Friday, December 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S7307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 3433

  Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, in a moment, I will ask for unanimous 
consent to pass H.R. 3433, the bipartisan Give Kids a Chance Act. I 
would like to highlight how important this legislation is for children 
with cancer all across this country.
  The Give Kids a Chance Act finally authorizes the FDA to direct 
companies who are conducting research for adult cancer drugs to study 
those drugs in combination with others to see whether they also can 
work well for kids who have cancer.
  The bill continues the work that Senator Rubio and I started in 2017, 
when we worked together to pass the RACE for Children Act, which 
required sponsors of certain adult cancer drugs to study the benefits 
or the effects and their use in children.
  Since then, Senator Rubio and I have both learned that combination 
therapies can be effective treatments and reduce the risk of side 
effects significantly, both for adults and for kids. That is why this 
legislation is so important.
  This bill can help save the lives of children all over our country 
who have the most aggressive forms of cancer. It would ensure that 
pharmaceutical companies are being held accountable to study how their 
drugs affect children who may have the same kind of cancer as adults 
but who need more tailored treatment in combination with other drugs.
  I know Senator Rubio and I have both heard numerous stories from 
patients who have asked for themselves and parents who have asked on 
behalf of their children and who have advocated on behalf of children 
who have passed away.
  This bill also authorizes the FDA to take enforcement action against 
companies that do not conduct the pediatric trials that are required 
under the Pediatric Research Equity Act and requires the FDA to report 
on enforcement of this act.
  Additionally, the bill reauthorizes the FDA rare pediatric disease 
priority review voucher program through fiscal year 2029, which 
incentivizes drug development for rare pediatric diseases.
  This bill has the support of dozens and dozens of organizations that 
represent kids and parents all across our country. I ask unanimous 
consent that their names be printed in the Record. In the interest of 
time this evening, I won't read them on the floor, although I want to 
say how deeply I appreciate their efforts.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Kids v Cancer, Arms Wide Open, Christina Renna Foundation 
     Inc, Curing Kids Cancer, DADA2 Foundation, Elevate Childhood 
     Cancer, End Kids Cancer, EVAN Foundation, Gabriella's Smile 
     Foundation, Give Kids The World, just to name a few.

  Mr. BENNET. I would also like to highlight the bipartisan nature of 
this work--Senator Rubio, as a cosponsor, with Senators Casey and 
Mullin, who cosponsored provisions of this House bill as well.
  This bill has passed unanimously out of the House Energy and Commerce 
Committee. It has passed the House by voice vote.
  Now is the time to pass this bill. If we pass it tonight, it will go 
to the President for his signature.
  Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be 
discharged from further consideration of and that the Senate proceed to 
H.R. 3433; further, that the bill be considered read a third time and 
passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid 
upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  The Senator from Colorado.
  Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I just want to say how deeply I regret the 
objection of the Senator from Kentucky. That is, of course, his right. 
I gather that he is objecting because he objects to the lateness of the 
hour and the time with which this request was made. At least, that is 
what I was told earlier tonight.
  I think after we have been held here in place for hours and hours and 
hours, the idea that we are not going to be able to pass this 
legislation is deeply, deeply disappointing to the people who have 
advocated for this for all of these years. It is a reflection, I think, 
of how broken this place is in the way that it puts its own interests 
ahead of the interests of the people who we represent. But we will be 
back to fight another day.
  Mr. President, I wish you and the staff here in the Senate at this 
late hour, and my colleagues who are here as well, happy holidays and 
Merry Christmas. We will see you in the new year.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.