Following National Cancer Day, cancer-related legislation continued to advance at the Iowa Capitol.
The Iowa House Higher Education Committee unanimously approved House File 2057 on Wednesday, a bill that would provide annual funding for pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa. The bill is chaired by local State Representative Jeff Shipley of Fairfield.
The legislation would fund pediatric cancer research at roughly one dollar per Iowa resident, with a cap of three million dollars per fiscal year. During committee discussion, lawmakers heard testimony from families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer.
Shipley said pediatric cancer is devastating not only for patients, but also for families and communities, adding that the state has a responsibility to show compassion and support efforts focused on treatment and potential cures.
House File 2057 now moves on to the full Iowa House for consideration.