Cures Act passed in House with overwhelming majority goes on to Senate
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. On Friday the U.S. House of Representatives voted 344- 77 in favor of H.R. 6 the 21
st Century Cures Act. This landmark bill is the product of more than a year of bipartisan collaboration of the Administration and stakeholders and as a result it is supported by more than 370 patient groups physician groups and research institutions from across the country. It was voted unanimously out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in May by a vote of 51-0. Todays vote is undeniable proof that Representatives from both sides of the aisle are ready to invest in the next generation of treatments and cures.
The Cures Initiative has always been about patients and today is a big victory for patients and families all across our nation" Green said. While some of the provisions are technical in nature their real-world impact is not abstract. This bill will improve the innovation ecosystem for the development of life-saving medical breakthroughs and better leverage critical resources to facilitate the discovery of new cures. The United States is home to some of the most advanced researchers and medical innovators new cures and treatments are at our fingertips. Thanks to todays vote were now one step closer to realizing that goal."
H.R. 6 was authored by Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) Diana DeGette (D-CO) Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) Gene Green (D-TX) and Joe Pitts (R-PA) to encourage biomedical innovation and the development of breakthrough treatments and cures for patients in need. As an original sponsor of the legislation Rep. Green strongly pushed for several of its keys provisions including $8.75 billion in mandatory funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The legislation also includes other legislation championed by Rep. Green along with Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) the ADAPT Act (H.R. 2629) and the SOFTWARE Act (H.R. 2396) respectively.
