March3,2017TheHonorableMichaelBennet UnitedStatesSenate Washington,DC20510 RE:SupportforS.456,theRACEforChildrenActDearSenatorBennet:OnbehalfoftheOncologyNursingSociety(ONS),IwriteinsupportofS.456,theResearchtoAccelerateCuresandEquity(RACE)forChildrenAct.Thislegislationwouldestablishaprogramtoincreasethedevelopmentofnewdrugstotreatpediatriccancers.Asyouknow,canceristhesecondleadingcauseofdeathinchildren,andapproximately15,700childrenintheUnitedStatesarediagnosedwithcancereachyear.Oncologynursesarethehealthprofessionalsinvolvedintheadministrationandmonitoringofchemotherapyandmanagingtheassociatedsideeffectscancerpatientsmayexperience.Everyday,weseethepainandsufferingcausedbycancerandunderstandthephysical,emotional,andfinancialchallengesthatchildrenwithcancerandtheirfamiliesfacethroughouttheirdiagnosisandtreatment.ONSisaprofessionalorganizationofover39,000registerednursesandotherhealthcareprovidersdedicatedtoexcellenceinpatientcare,education,research,andadministrationinoncologynursing.Thegrowingdemandforcancercare,frompreventiontopalliativecare,requiresoncologynursestoplayapivotalandincreasinglyimportantroleindeliveringhighquality,safe,effectiveandefficienthealthcaretopeopleaffectedby,oratriskfor,cancer.TheRACEforChildrenActwillsupportthedevelopmentofinnovativeandpromisingcancerdrugsforchildren,andweverymuchappreciateyourdedicationtoadvancingresearchtotreatandcurepediatriccancers.WewouldbehappytodiscusswaysinwhichONSmaybeofassistanceinthisendeavor,andwouldencourageyoutocontactAlecStone,MA,MPA,ONSDirectorofHealthPolicy,[email protected].
Sincerely,
SusanSchneider,PhD,RN,AOCN®,FAAN President OncologyNursingSociety
