Upton leads discussion panel on rare childhood diseases, efforts to find cures

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) led a panel discussion on Wednesday that focused on childhood diseases and efforts to find cures.

U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr., (D-NJ), the ranking member of the committee, and Diana DeGette (D-CO), a member of the committee, co-hosted the panel discussion with Upton that featured testimony from children with rare diseases and their parents.

Upton said that real progress has been made on the committee’s #Path2Cures initiative and gave an update of a recent meeting on #Path2Cures with Vice President Joe Biden.

Earlier this month, Upton and DeGette discussed the committee’s progress in advancing precision medicine, as well as development of cures for cancer and rare diseases, through the 21st Century Cures Act.

“To date, 13 bills have passed that will make a difference in the lives of countless patients and we look forward to continuing on this bipartisan track as we get closer to a vote on the Senate floor,” Upton and DeGette said in a joint statement. “Patients and their families are watching and waiting – let’s keep the momentum going.”

Roger Daltrey, a member of The Who and the co-founder of Teen Cancer America, threw his support behind the 21st Century Cures Act during the Conversation on Child Cures discussion panel on Wednesday.