More than $100 million in private donations over the next 10 years could be raised to support childhood cancer research under a bill passed today by the Pennsylvania Senate, according to Senator Dan Laughlin, who supported the bill.
Senate Bill 74 establishes a tax credit program for qualifying donations to a Pennsylvania pediatric cancer research hospital. The program would be capped at $10 million per year over the next 10 years.
More children die from cancer than any other disease, and currently, only 4 percent of National Cancer Institute research dollars are spent on pediatric cancer. Since 1975, pediatric cancer incidence rates have increased every year.
The Senate vote today is part of a series of actions designed to save the lives of children. Act 73 of 2018 allowed Pennsylvanians to donate $5 to the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund when electronically renewing a driver’s license, photo identification card or vehicle registration. Act 39 of 2017 created space on state tax forms for taxpayers to voluntarily designate a contribution for pediatric cancer research.
Senate Bill 74 now goes to the state House of Representatives for consideration.
CONTACT: Matt Azeles mazeles@pasen.gov