HR 1043 Summary

• Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children, with approximately 1 in 285 children diagnosed before age 20 and incidence increasing 0.6% annually since the mid-1970s (24% increase over 40 years).

• More than 95% of childhood cancer survivors experience long-lasting chronic conditions, with significant health issues by age 45 from toxic and harsh treatments; FDA has approved only 3 pediatric cancer drugs in 30 years.

• Childhood cancer research received only 4% ($195 million) of the National Cancer Institute's $4.9 billion 2014 budget, and pharmaceutical companies provide virtually no funding for childhood cancer drug development due to small market profitability.

• Texas created a $200 million permanent endowment for childhood cancer research from tobacco settlement funds in 1999; each dollar invested by Oklahoma's Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust attracts three additional dollars in outside research support.

• House of Representatives believes Oklahoma should establish research partnerships between the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust and public universities to improve childhood cancer treatment effectiveness and reduce negative treatment effects; directs distribution to OTSET, University of Oklahoma, and Jimmy Everest Center at Children's Hospital.