As a member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) has been a strong voice for the 21st Century Cures initiative, which strives to accelerate the research, development and delivery of lifesaving vaccines.
“This initiative is necessary to expediting the vaccine development process, and I am proud to be a part of the committee helping to formulate policies that will accelerate the delivery of cures,” she told the Ripon Advance.
Taking a strong leadership position in the initiative, Ellmers said that vaccines are a vital component to protecting public health and preventing the spread of dangerous viruses. She said any gaps in the process of developing and distributing vaccines should be closed.
“If we want to continue paving the way for the development of new vaccines, it’s important we identify many of the hurdles hindering the approval process,” she said.
Last month, Ellmers held a 21st Century Cure roundtable discussion in North Carolina, bringing biopharmaceutical companies and public health officials together to discuss how to overcome any obstacles in developing and distributing vaccines effectively and how the legislation within the 21st Century Cures initiative can help.
“I look forward to spearheading vaccine legislation which will be included in the 21st Century Cures package and is expected to pass the House of Representatives in early 2015,” she said.