Washington, D.C. — Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement after today’s Subcommittee on Health hearing on 21^st Century Cures Act implementation.

“One year ago, the House passed the 21^st Century Cures Act, fulfilling our promise to help deliver cures to millions of patients. Today, nearly a full year after the Cures Act was signed into law, the Health Subcommittee heard from Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, who are at the helm of Cures implementation.

“It is notable that, within the span of less than a year, the Cures Act already has led to the creation of 110 new research projects focused on the brain, 142 Cancer Moonshot awards, and enhanced drug development. Certainly, more progress is needed to alleviate the agony of an incurable disease; however, we already know that Cures has accelerated the cycle of discovery, development, and delivery of new treatments and has ensured that our nation remains the global leader in biomedical innovation.

“The Cures Act is making government an ally, rather than an obstacle, in the cycle of medical innovation. We expect to conduct more check-ins on this law as it is implemented, and today’s hearing was an encouraging first update on its role in delivering cures to American patients.”