21st Century Cures Passes House, Offers Real Solutions to Nation’s Health Challenges

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House passed a fully paid for, transformative package of reforms and resources that will bring our medical innovation process into the 21st century; accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of life-saving and life-changing treatments and cures; better prepare for biological threats; and address our most pressing national health challenges: mental health and substance abuse. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN05) released the following statement after the vote:

“I want to thank the countless Hoosiers and Fifth District organizations and advocates who met with me to discuss their ideas to improve this legislation and who shared their personal stories and experiences to inform this bill,” Brooks said. “Many of us have watched a friend or loved one struggle with cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, only to be told that there was little hope of treatment or a cure. 21st Century Cures provides patients and their families with hope for a future and ensures that the United States will stay on the cutting edge of medical innovation. It is the product of years of bipartisan work with patients, researchers, innovators and health care providers to determine specific steps we can take today to encourage scientific collaboration to find cures faster. ”

The 21st Century Cures Act seeks to speed and improve the discovery of promising developments in science, to streamlining the device development process, to unleashing the power of digital medicine and delivery of life-saving and life-improving therapies, thereby transforming the quest for faster cures. In addition, the legislation includes important provisions to combat the opioid and heroin crisis devastating our communities, brings about the first major overhaul of our mental health system in over half a century and includes provisions to enhance our national biodefense.

“I’m especially pleased that the final bill includes a number of provisions that I helped lead to improve and protect our national health,” Brooks continued. “First, people struggling with mental illness will have more access to the care and treatment they need. Second, our state and local partners will get critical resources to address the heroin and opioid epidemic in our communities. Third, this proposal incentivizes the development and testing of vaccines and treatments for chemical and biological threats and ensures that appropriate vaccines can be added to our existing national stockpile in case of an attack.”

More information about 21st Century Cures is available online at: https://energycommerce.house.gov/cures