Washington, DC – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., today, praised the passage of the 21^st Century Cures Act, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 344-77.  Over a year in the making, this package of reforms is aimed at accelerating the discovery, development, and delivery of life-saving treatments and cures to patients.  The package incorporates numerous priorities of Congressman Michael C. Burgess’ – including five separately introduced bills and three policy initiatives.

The world is in a new era of medical technology. Yet America’s current federal standards make the production of medicine and medical devices increasingly slow. This groundbreaking legislation will finally bring innovation and medicine together by cutting red tape at the FDA, incorporating personalized medicine and investing in the future of science.

“The divide between medical innovation and patients has been widening for too long,” Rep. Burgess said. “Today, this body sent a message that saving lives and maintaining our nation’s place as the global leader in patient care is of utmost importance. We are sitting on the edge of treatments and cures once thought impossible. Tomorrow’s doctors will have revolutionary tools at their disposal to alleviate human suffering, and these reforms are critically important so that they aren’t barred from reaching the patients who need them most.

“This bill is yet another example of the 114^th Congress’ ability to provide fiscally sound, bipartisan, solutions to our nation’s pressing challenges. I am optimistic that the importance of these entitlement reforms won’t be lost on the Senate. The future of medicine, and America’s role in it, relies on their urgency to send this to the president’s desk, where it must become law.”

Burgess priorities included in the 21^st Century Cures Act:

• H.R. 292 – Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases

• H.R. 293 –  Supporting continued education on medical innovations

• H.R. 2414 – Facilitating responsible communication of scientific health information

• H.R. 2415 –  Streamlining FDA data review processes of approved drugs for patient use

• H.R. 2416 –   Promoting FDA integration of real-world evidence to aid in drug approval

• Sec. 2081 – Urging the sense that “breakthrough” drugs be approved as soon as possible

• Sec. 3001 – Ensuring widespread interoperability of health information technology

• Sec. 2082/2083 – Expanding transparency in how patients access drugs before approval

  • In conjunction with Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX)

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