The Gabriella Miller Kids First Act 2.0

BuildingOnSuccess_edited-3Because of the successes of the Kids First Program and Data Resource Center, Representatives Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10),  along with Tom Cole, R-OK, Gus Bilirakis, R-FL, and Debbie Dingell, D-MI, and 33 other bipartisan cosponsors, plus other Representatives got it passed in the House on March 5, 2024!

Now, all we need to do is get the Senate to pass it.  Senators Tim Kaine, D-VA, and Jerry Moran, R-KS, with 13 other bipartisan Senators re-introduced the bill as  S. 1624 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0.

The bill is named in honor of Gabriella Miller, a Leesburg resident who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and passed away in 2013 at age 10.

Gabriella’s advocacy for lawmakers to “stop talking, start doing,” led to the creation of the Ten-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund which authorized $12.6 million in annual funds for childhood disease research. The current 10 year program will sunset (end) in September 2024. This  new legislation would reauthorize and increase funding for the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First), which has supported lifesaving research of treatments for childhood cancer including an open Data Resource Center for use by researchers in the USA and around the globe. We can not afford to lose this most valuable program and Data Resource Center.

“Gabriella Miller was a Virginian and a passionate activist, and it’s my mission to honor her by working to make sure pediatric disease research is a priority in Congress,” said Senator Tim Kaine in a statement. “I’m proud to join together with colleagues from both sides of the aisle in introducing this legislation, which would provide a crucial source of funding for the pediatric cancer and disease research that can support treatments and save lives in the years to come.”

We have 15 Senators today and need more. Help save the Kids First Program

Senate Cosponsors

GMKFA Senate cosponsors 15_edited-1

If your Senator has not cosponsored yet, contact them by CLICKING HERE .  When  you contact your Senator, please reference  S. 1624 – The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 

“My daughter Gabriella called upon our elected officials to ‘stop talking and start doing’ two weeks before she died of brain cancer at the age of 10,” said Ellyn Miller, Founder and President of the Smashing Walnuts Foundation, in a statement. “Today, she would be 22; living a full and wonderful life. I want to say to Gabriella, we have been doing! We have been making progress! But many more families have suffered and MORE needs to be done! So I am grateful to all those who are DOING something wonderful for children who suffer from cancer and other debilitating diseases. Building off the great success of the ‘Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act’, this bipartisan legislation brings additional funding to continue the work done to date by NIH for much-needed research for childhood cancers and diseases. My heartfelt thanks to all the Members of Congress who have joined together to support the search for better treatments and cures for our children.”  

Ellyn Miller, Gabriella’s Mom

Over the coming weeks and months Smashing Walnuts and other organizations in the childhood cancer community will be gathering supporters from all of the United States to lobby for their Senators to cosponsor and help pass the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act – S. 1624.   If you have never signed up as a supporter, please CLICK HERE: