Washington, D.C. — Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement on S. 204, the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017.

“It was an honor to join President Trump today as he signed Right to Try into law, delivering on our promise to offer renewed hope to Americans suffering from terminal illness. These patients deserve a fighting chance at life – they deserve the ‘right to try.’ It has been a privilege to play a role in this legislation’s journey from bill to law. Last year, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing with experts and sought input from patients, advocates, the Administration, and stakeholders on all sides of this issue.

“At his State of the Union address, President Trump told Congress that ‘people who are terminally ill should not have to go from country to country to seek a cure.’ Along with President Trump, I agree that we should give these Americans the right to try right here at home. It is far past time that we deliver hope to the suffering, and with the President’s signature, Right to Try is at last the law of the land.”