Cure Alliance president Shelley Ross congratulates the Committee leaders on their unanimous vote (51-0).
“Today’s unanimous vote sends a loud and clear message that it’s time to unravel the red tape, free up the funds and give our federal agencies the tools they need to keep pace with the rapid innovations in medicine,” said Shelley Ross, president of The Cure Alliance.
“Congratulations to Chairman Fred Upton, co-sponsor Rep. Diana DeGette for so successfully navigating this reform.”
Founding president and fellow board member, Dr. Camillo Ricordi, added, “This is a big step towards our #1 goal to end suffering by developing cures for chronic, debilitating and fatal diseases and accelerate potential cures from the laboratory to the bedside.”
Dr. Camillo Ricordi with 21st Century Cures Act authors Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) of the Committee on Energyy and Commerce.
Ross and Ricordi met with House committee staff members earlier in the day and were present for the historic vote. Dr. Charles Brunicardi of The Cure Alliance board joined by Skype.
The vote had been delayed by last minute concern over the $13 billion cost of the bill, H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act, which will help modernize and personalize health care, encourage greater innovation, support research, and streamline the system to deliver better, faster cures to more patients. Elements include an innovation fund for National Institutes of Health, new opportunities for younger scientists, streamlining clinical trials along with the FDA approval process and more.
At the last moment, Health and Energy Committee members proposed the cost of the bill would be offset by selling 8 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a withdraw which relies on a signature from the President.
According to published reports, the last time the reserve was tapped was in 2011 when President Obama sold 30 million barrels to the private market to offset supply disruptions in the Middle East.
A true nonpartisan effort, the 21st Century Cures legislation was authored by full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member DeGette, full committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA), and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX).
“We have all said too many early good-byes to people we love and treasure. Every single person has a common goal: we want more time with those we love. In this, the greatest country in the world, Americans deserve a system second to none. We can and must do better. The time for 21st Century Cures is now,” Rep. Fred Upton said.
“In the last century, American medicine leapt from medicine shows to the mapping of the human genome,” said DeGette adding, ”with the 21st Century Cures Act, we seek to support the biomedical community in making a similar leap forward in this next century. With billions in support for our premier research and development institutions and comprehensive reform of our systems, 21st Century Cures will make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families.”
The unanimous vote in the Committee, followed by applause and cheers from both sides, bodes well for the 21st Century Cures Act passing in the full House. The Senate is preparing their version, Innovation for Healthier Americans, led by Sen. Lamaar Alexander (R-TN) and Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC).
In their report released last January, they wrote: “Together, we can take important steps to ensure that America remains the world’s leading global innovator in medicine, and in the process also ensure that our nation’s patients have access to the most cutting-edge medical products in as timely a manner as possible.”
Upton hopes to have a bill on the President’s desk by the end of the year.