Gabriella Miller Research Act
Floor Speech
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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