Dear Childhood Cancer Advocate:   Thurs. May, 24, 2012. Today, the United States Senate passed the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act by a vote of 96-1 (Senator Bernard Sanders, I-VT).    This bipartisan legislation includes important provisions designed to address drug shortages by requiring manufacturers to report the permanent discontinuance, or an interruption, of the manufacturing of drugs that are life-supporting, life-sustaining or intended for use in the prevention of a debilitating disease or condition. Through early notification, FDA can work with industry to help avert or mitigate shortages of drugs to treat cancer and other diseases.    The House of Representatives is expected to consider its version of the legislation next week. The two versions are similar, and it is anticipated that resolving the differences between the two bills will be handled expeditiously.    While we still have more work to do, the vote in the Senate today is an important step in the efforts to help bring safe and effective anti-cancer therapeutics from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside.     Ruth I Hoffman MPH Executive Director