Pennsylvania HR 582: A Resolution designating the month of September 2026 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3718
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 582
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY BENNINGHOFF, COOK, STENDER, PICKETT, MALAGARI,
McNEILL, MERSKI, VENKAT, MARCELL, RIVERA, GUENST, CAUSER,
NEILSON, COOPER, MOUL, GALLAGHER, CIRESI, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
DEASY, CURRY AND ROWE, JUNE 26, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUNE 29, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2026 as "Childhood Cancer
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that
approximately 9,680 children under 15 years of age in the United
States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2026; and
WHEREAS, Childhood cancer is the second leading cause of
death in children under 15 years of age, exceeded only by
accidents, and more than 1,000 children are expected to die from
cancer in 2026; and
WHEREAS, One in 264 children in the United States will be
diagnosed with cancer by 20 years of age; and
WHEREAS, The potential years of life lost to childhood cancer
and the potential years of life saved by treatment exceed all
other cancers, with the exception of breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, Most children cannot be treated at a local hospital
and families must face the disruption of relocating to receive
treatment at a regional cancer center; and
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WHEREAS, As a result of major treatment advances in recent
decades, approximately 85% to 87% of children with cancer now
survive for five years or more; and
WHEREAS, This represents a significant increase since the
mid-1970s, when the five-year survival rate was approximately
58%; and
WHEREAS, Survival rates vary depending on the type of cancer
and other factors; and
WHEREAS, Significant progress remains to be made in childhood
cancer treatment because many types of childhood cancer remain
very difficult to treat and some types have lower survival
rates; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is a leader in the fight against
childhood cancer and the treatment of childhood cancer, with six
Children's Oncology Group hospitals: St. Christopher's Hospital
for Children, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Geisinger
Medical Center, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Penn State
Health Children's Hospital and UPMC Children's Hospital of
Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, Penn State Health Children's Hospital is 1 of only
13 institutions nationwide in the Pediatric Oncology
Experimental Therapeutic Investigators' Consortium; and
WHEREAS, In 2024-2025, Pennsylvanians contributed more than
$500,000 to the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund through a
donation feature made available during online license,
identification and registration renewals; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians also contributed nearly $23,000 to
the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund in 2024 through the donation
option provided on State income tax returns; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
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month of September 2026 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage young
Pennsylvanians who are fighting cancer, honor young people who
have lost their lives to childhood cancer, express gratitude to
the doctors and nurses who provide special care to patients and
families affected by childhood cancer and encourage all
residents of this Commonwealth to join the fight against
childhood cancer.
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