Declaration of Pediatric Cancer as a National Health Emergency
Initiated by: Ahmad Butler Foundation
Founder: Latanya Morrison
Date Initiated: January 5, 2026
Overview
On January 5, 2026, the Ahmad Butler Foundation formally submitted a declaration calling for pediatric cancer to be recognized as a national health emergency. The declaration was delivered via certified mail and email to key executive and congressional leadership.
This document serves as a public reference point documenting the declaration, its purpose, and its current status.
The Declaration
The declaration asserts that pediatric cancer constitutes a national health emergency due to its scope, severity, and duration, and that the absence of emergency recognition has contributed to systemic failures in research, treatment development, and coordinated federal response.
The full text of the declaration is available below:
Declaration of Pediatric Cancer as a National Health Emergency
- More than 15,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year.
- Cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death among children.
- Pediatric cancer receives less than 5% of federal cancer research funding.
- Many treatments currently used for children were developed decades ago and are associated with long-term harm.
- Survival gains for several pediatric cancers have stagnated.
Current Status
The Ahmad Butler Foundation is actively engaging with congressional offices to identify the most appropriate and effective pathway for advancing formal recognition of pediatric cancer as a national health emergency.
This document will be updated as the process advances.
Stand with children and families fighting pediatric cancer by calling on lawmakers to protect and increase funding for pediatric cancer care and research.
Help us continue our work and support families facing pediatric cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.