Philadelphia, PA — The Ahmad Butler Foundation (ABF) today announced confirmed federal engagement following its formal request to declare pediatric cancer a national health emergency.
The Foundation has received a written response from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) acknowledging its declaration. In its correspondence, NCI stated that it “recognizes the concerns outlined in the declaration and the experiences of families affected by pediatric cancer”.
In addition, certified letters delivered to federal leadership, including the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have been officially received and signed for. ABF has also received direct confirmation from a federal office that the Foundation’s declaration is under active review.
“This marks an important step,” said Latanya Morrison, Founder and Executive Director of the Ahmad Butler Foundation. “We are encouraged that federal institutions are engaging. But for families sitting beside hospital beds tonight, engagement must translate into urgency.”
The Foundation’s declaration calls for emergency-level prioritization of pediatric cancer through strengthened federal coordination, accelerated research pathways, and bipartisan legislative action.
While research progress has been made, pediatric cancer remains uniquely complex and continues to demand distinct national focus. ABF believes emergency recognition would elevate coordination across agencies, accelerate innovation, and send a clear signal that children battling cancer are a national priority.
“This is not the end of a conversation, it is the beginning of a broader national movement,” Morrison added. “Children do not choose this fight. Our country must meet it with resolve.”
“This is how national movements begin,” said Jason Collins, Communications Director of the Ahmad Butler Foundation. “ through documented engagement and continued pressure for action. We are committed to ensuring this conversation advances beyond correspondence and into coordinated federal prioritization.”