WHEREAS, According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO), cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in California and this country; and

WHEREAS, Many children in California are afflicted with cancer, experiencing enormous pain and suffering, and they and their families require extraordinary levels of information and support in their struggles against this disease; and

WHEREAS, The ACCO is making childhood cancer a national health priority by shaping policy with $98,800,000 appropriated in seven states, supporting research, raising awareness, providing educational resources and innovative programs to children with cancer, survivors, and their families; and

WHEREAS, The potential years of life lost from childhood cancer and the potential years of life saved by treatment exceed all other cancers except for breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, California is a leader in the fight against and treatment of childhood cancers with 18 Children’s Oncology Group (COG) hospitals: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach, Naval Medical Center San Diego, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Valley Children’s Hospital; and

WHEREAS, California has the most National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer centers in the country: UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Salk Cancer Center, Stanford Cancer Institute, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center; and

WHEREAS, The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) provides over $3,000,000,000 total in funding for stem cell research and therapy development, including cancer research, making the State of California a leader in the nation for funding and research, but more targeted efforts on childhood cancer are still needed; and

WHEREAS, California is number one in the country for pediatric leukemia incidence rates and number 21 in the country for overall incidence rates; and

WHEREAS, Due to children’s bodies still growing and cancer treatments largely geared toward use on adults, children are more likely to experience long-term side effects from treatment which could include, but are not limited to, heart or lung problems, slowed or delayed development, changes in sexual development and infertility, learning disabilities, hearing loss, and increased risk of secondary forms of cancer; and

WHEREAS, California has many of the world’s finest medical, academic, and commercial institutions and the treatment of cancer requires a high level of commitment to provide the necessary resources and research that not only Californians have access to, but families all across the United States and the world travel to California for its extraordinary treatment and clinical trials; and

WHEREAS, Childhood cancer treatment is handled by a team of pediatric oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pediatric oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, social workers, child life specialists, nutritionists, rehabilitation and physical therapists, and educators; and

WHEREAS, Some of the most important members of a pediatric cancer patient’s team are experienced parents who navigate and advocate on behalf of their children and other children fighting this disease; and

WHEREAS, The ACCO is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated to fighting childhood cancer and was the leading organization to choose gold to represent childhood cancer; and

WHEREAS, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is an important nationwide tool for raising awareness among governmental officials and the public about the nature and scope of this problem; now, therefore, be it