Cause Celeb: Roger Daltrey of The Who headlines Capitol Hill panel on childhood diseases

Celeb: Roger Daltrey, the legendary frontman for British rock outfit The Who.

Cause: Daltrey and The Who’s guitarist, Pete Townshend, founded Teen Cancer America, an organization that encourages hospitals to cater better to patients who are too old for cancer-wing programs and playrooms aimed at kids — and yet too young for the adult facilities.

Scene: The rocker appeared on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning on a panel convened by the House Energy and Commerce Committee about speeding cures for diseases that affect young people. Daltrey — rebelling against the typical boxy-suit lobbyist uniform in a button-down vest and slick lace-up boots — spoke alongside committee chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and top Democrat Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) as well as parents and survivors of illnesses.

Daltrey did his best nod-and-look-interested routine through even the driest legislative talk, and even endured Upton’s cornily pun-ish reference to his band: “If not now, when?” the chairman asked of action on House-passed legislation that would speed up clinical trials and drug development. “And if not us, who?”

Soundbite: Daltrey said that facilities his charity has helped fund that accommodate teenage cancer patients are translating into better prognoses for sick teens. “We know this is improving outcomes… and we need help from you.”