House Energy and Commerce leaders applaud passage of 21st Century Cures

Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee lauded House approval of the 21st Century Cures Act, a sweeping package designed to speed up the development of new treatments and medical innovations.

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), the chairman of the committee, co-authored what has been called one of the most important pieces of legislation this year with U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO).

The 21st Century Cures Act calls for more than $6 billion in investments in public health initiatives, medical innovation, mental health reforms, and substance abuse treatment and prevention efforts.

The legislation “is the innovation game-changer that patients, their loved ones, and the nation’s researchers and scientists so desperately need,” Upton and DeGette said in a joint statement. “The White House has expressed its enthusiastic endorsement of this critical legislation.”

The bill now moves to the Senate, where it also has strong support.

U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) led a number of provisions that were included in the bill.

“First, people struggling with mental illness will have more access to the care and treatment they need,” Brooks said. “Second, our state and local partners will get critical resources to address the heroin and opioid epidemic in our communities. Third, this proposal incentivizes the development and testing of vaccines and treatments for chemical and biological threats and ensures that appropriate vaccines can be added to our existing national stockpile in case of an attack.”

Speaking in support of the bill, U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA) said regulatory policies have lagged behind scientific advancements for far too long.

“We have worked with patients, doctors, healthcare providers, researchers and innovators to ensure this legislation will expedite the discovery, development and delivery of new treatments,” Walters said.

“The Cures Act will ensure that the United States remains the global leader in biomedical innovation, protecting and creating jobs here at home. California is home to over 3,000 life sciences companies, and these companies employ nearly 300,000 people, who work to develop lifesaving treatments,” she said.

Additionally, the legislation will ensure that patients have access to treatments and cures when they need them, Walters said.

“I am proud to have voted in favor of the 21st Century Cures Act, and it is my hope the Senate and the president work with us to sign this innovative legislation into law,” Walters concluded.