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Follow the #Path2Cures: The 21st Century Cures Act was approved by the House on July 10, 2015. Next Stop: U.S. Senate

Key Documents
 

• H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act Legislative Text (Major Changes as of July 2, 2015)
• Two-Page Summary (Spanish Language Summary)
• Section-by-Section Summary
• Letters of Support 
• FAQs
• Cures Safety Myth-Fact
• 21st Century Cures: Fiscally Responsible, Meaningful Reform

Must Read

• TIME: How to Breathe New Life Into America's Health Care System (by Chairman Upton)
• 21st Century Cures is a Major Breakthrough (by Newt Gingrich)
• National Journal: More 'Green Shoots' on the Hill (by Charlie Cook)

Must Watch

Chairman Upton and Rep. DeGette discuss their vision for the 21st Centurcy Cures initiative in April 2014

Physician and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee discusses the 21st Century Cures Act

Mission

Congress is working together on a nonpartisan issue that will have a profound effect on the lives of all Americans. H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act, will bring our health care innovation infrastructure into the 21st Century, delivering hope for patients and loved ones and providing necessary resources to researchers to continue their efforts to uncover the next generation of cures and treatments. 

In the 21st century, health care innovation is happening at lightning speed. From the mapping of the human genome to the rise of personalized medicines that are linked to advances in molecular medicine, we have seen constant breakthroughs that are changing the face of disease treatment, management, and cures. Health research is moving quickly, but the federal drug and device approval apparatus is in many ways the relic of another era. We have dedicated scientists and bold leaders at agencies like the NIH and the FDA, but when our laws don’t keep pace with innovation, we all lose.

If we want to save more lives and keep this country the leader in medical innovation, we have to make sure there’s not a major gap between the science of cures and the way we regulate these therapies. That is why, for the first time ever, we in Congress have taken a comprehensive look at what steps we can take to accelerate the pace of cures in America. We have looked at the full arc of this process – from the discovery of clues in basic science, to streamlining the drug and device development process, to unleashing the power of digital medicine and social media at the treatment delivery phase. We took our time, listening to the experts who know best. We’ve been working with patients, patient advocates, researchers, and innovators in the health care system to learn more about how to close the gaps between advances in scientific knowledge about cures and the regulatory policies created to save more lives.

For over a year now, members have taken this important conversation back home to districts all across the country, and now it's time to take those ideas and bring them to life.

On May 21, 2015, the committee voted 51-0 to advance the 21st Century Cures Act, a bill to help modernize and personalize health care, encourage greater innovation, support research, and streamline the system. As this nonpartisan legislation makes its way to the president’s desk we encourage you to stay up to date with the effort here and on social media using #Cures2015. 

Connect with Us

The committee is seeking input on this bold new initiative from a wide variety of interested stakeholders.

Engage on social media by liking us on Facebook, Following us on Twitter, and using the hashtags #Path2Cures and #Cures2015.

Email the committee using the email address cures@mail.house.gov

21st Century Cures is a truly collaborative effort. Please be advised that submissions sent to cures@mail.house.gov will be made publicly available on energycommerce.house.gov/cures as part of the effort to encourage continued discussion about opportunities and ideas to accelerate the pace of cures. We thank you for participating.