Why We Fight: A Good Thing Happened
It's important to remember what we are fighting for. . . not just against.
A good thing happened this week in Washington.
Nope, you didn’t read that wrong. Something good actually got done in Congress.
After a long, arduous, and often absurd process, the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act has finally passed Congress and is set to be signed into law. The legislation significantly expands pediatric cancer research, helping open the door to new and innovative treatments for children with cancer.
The bill enjoyed broad bipartisan support for years but was repeatedly blocked or stripped out through procedural maneuvers. In 2024, it was included in a major funding package before being removed amid internal Republican opposition following public pressure from Elon Musk over new health spending. In 2025, a Senate effort to pass the bill by unanimous consent collapsed after an objection from Senator Bernie Sanders.
This time, lawmakers took a different approach. During the FY2026 budget negotiations, they embedded the bill directly into the must-pass minibus spending package—specifically the Labor–HHS–Education bill that funds the NIH and FDA.
On Tuesday, the House passed the final $1.2 trillion spending package, and President Trump signed it into law.
The impact of this bill can’t be overstated. This law:
Expands research and treatment options for childhood cancer and rare pediatric diseases.
Strengthens FDA oversight of pediatric drug studies.
Extends priority review vouchers for rare pediatric disease treatments through FY2027.
Supports new research incentives and access to clinical trials.
Thanks to the passage of this bill, children battling cancer will have more options for treatment, and researchers will be able to study pediatric cancer, potentially finding a cure.
This is a very good thing.
Why We Fight
I don’t share this story to soften the fear or anxiety so many of us are feeling. The news remains grim, and the state of our country is deeply troubling. The passage of this bill doesn’t change that.
But it does remind us why the fight for democracy matters. When advocates refuse to give up, when families keep pushing, and when lawmakers put aside ego and political gamesmanship, meaningful progress is still possible.
It doesn’t happen often enough. Progress has been far too slow. Still, it matters to acknowledge that even in this moment, something good happened.
Recognizing that hasn’t diminished my resolve to resist this administration. It’s strengthened it. In a world where it’s painfully easy to see what I’m fighting against, this bill is a reminder of what I’m fighting for.
Democracy isn’t an abstraction. Sometimes it looks like committee votes and procedural hurdles. Sometimes it looks like children getting one more option, one more trial, one more chance. This bill passed because people refused to stop believing in our Democracy. I needed that reminder.
Don’t stop believing. Don’t stop fighting.