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Why It Took Congress Years to Pass a Bill No One Opposed

2026-02-04 News & Politics
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The Bulwark
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Description

Sam Stein gives his take on the good news out of Congress. After years of inexplicable delays, political dysfunction, and gut-wrenching defeats, the Give Kids a Chance Act has finally passed and is set to become law. The bipartisan bill will expand pediatric cancer research by allowing the FDA to study combination drug therapies, opening new funding streams, and cutting bureaucratic red tape that has long slowed progress for kids with cancer. Sam walks through how this widely supported legislation was repeatedly sidelined, including Elon Musk’s intervention, Senate procedural roadblocks, and last-minute objections that left families and advocates devastated. In the New Year, take ownership of your health with ZocDoc, at https://ZocDoc.com/BULWARKTAKES. Read Sam's article about the pediatric cancer bill: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/pediatric-cancer-bill-elon-rand-bernie-mikaela-naylon Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join

Top Comments (10)

@Keri-z3y 2026-02-04

Thanks, mother of a cancer survivor. She was part of a study. This is important. Saves lives!!!

127 5 replies
@lindascott6902 2026-02-04

As a cancer researcher for 30+ years (both pediatric and adult blood cancers), thank you!

105 4 replies
@stanbyme7874 2026-02-04

My daughter was diagnosed w Cancer at 6. She was given an experimental drug only used once before. That child lived 3 years. My daughter lived a normal healthy life until 27. The drug is now commonly used. *She had moved to TX in 2018. Diagnosed w Breast Cancer 2020. Before she could start treatment she got Covid. She died alone in a hospital. We never spoke to her. We never got her body. Because TX said no masks & Trump said it was the "flu". I hope for their ☠️every morning. Every night. A lonely long slow one, please.

83 15 replies
@salavaosavea 2026-02-04

Thank you Sam. Keep informing us with facts and truth.

66
@heidikarpa2278 2026-02-04

Good news is always good. Especially now. Well done for following it through.

64
@Kornheiser10 2026-02-04

Finally!!! Anyone who has watched you knows how much this bill means to you. It's taken continued diligence by you and others. You did a Mitzvah!!!

54 2 replies
@pennygleeson5029 2026-02-04

Wonderful news Sam, thank you for covering it, & being so passionate about it 👍👍💙💙💙

27
@Rock_Snob 2026-02-04

I’m a cancer survivor in my 60’s… no child should have to go through this! This is good news for once 😊

12
@SweetMelly1037 2026-02-04

Every bit of good news needs to reported. It plants a little seed of hope that we are not completely lost. Thanks, Sam!

7
@chrisgriffiths2187 2026-02-04

Thank you for continuing to follow this story. I openly wept when you first shined a light on it. Glad to hear it finally passed in a do-nothing congress

3

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