Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pediatric Cancer Affiliate topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee urges stakeholders to explore St. Jude affiliate program for South Carolina
Summary
The Senate Medical Affairs Committee unanimously approved a resolution encouraging St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and local stakeholders to pursue an affiliate program in South Carolina; sponsors said the measure responds to a local family's experience and ongoing outreach with medical centers.
The Senate Medical Affairs Committee unanimously approved a resolution encouraging St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the South Carolina Childhood Cancer Task Force, medical schools and hospitals and other stakeholders to undertake efforts to establish a St. Jude affiliate program in South Carolina.
Senator Lieber summarized the resolution on the floor as brief and straightforward: it "encourage[s] St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the members of the South Carolina Childhood Cancer Task Force, the medical schools and hospitals of the state, and other appropriate stakeholders to undertake efforts to establish and operate a St. Jude affiliate program in the state of South Carolina." Representative Teeple, present for the discussion, and other sponsors said the resolution is driven by constituent experience: one Johns Island family credited St. Jude with a life-saving treatment that local facilities initially did not provide.
Sponsors said they have organized outreach that will include MUSC and legislative leadership traveling to Memphis to meet St. Jude representatives. Senator Teeple and backers asked the committee for a favorable report so the measure can go to the full Senate; the committee voted unanimously to report the resolution favorably.
The resolution is nonbinding encouragement to stakeholders; it does not appropriate funds or create an agency role. Sponsors said establishing an affiliate could increase local access to pediatric oncology trials and care, but the resolution itself requests stakeholders to explore and undertake efforts rather than committing state resources.
Votes at a glance: Committee adoption and favorable report were recorded as unanimous on voice/hand-raise vote.
