Floor Remarks by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Senate President Pro Tempore
“September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month”
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
In the United States this year, over 9,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed among children from birth to age 14.
While cancer … death [rates] for children have declined by 70 percent from 1970 through 2020, cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children.
Access to timely pediatric care is critical to reducing cancer deaths.
Children’s hospitals specialize in certain types of cancer care. Unfortunately, gaining access to a children’s hospital across the country or in the state next door can be a real challenge.
That’s why I’m the sponsor of the bipartisan Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act.
Moms and dads seeking life-saving cancer care for their kids should be able to access care quickly and wherever it’s available. Now, sadly, sometimes it takes months for a child to get access to treatment if it’s out-of-state.
There is no excuse for that! In fact, it’s pure bureaucratic red tape.
Families shouldn’t have to navigate red tape to get life-saving care for their child with complex medical needs.
My bill simplifies this process, so parents can ensure kids with [a] cancer diagnosis get timely [medical] care.
Our bill is the most cosponsored bipartisan bill – I want to emphasize ‘bipartisan bill” – of all the Medicaid bills before the Senate Finance Committee.
I look forward to making this bill become law.
-30-