Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives approved the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 6) in a vote of 344-77:

“Passage of the 21st Century Cures Act is the culmination of more than a year’s worth of work by the Energy and Commerce Committee, led by Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO).  This important effort is about saving more lives, keeping this country the leader in medical innovation, and accelerating the discovery, development, and delivery cycle of new cures and treatments for diseases.  Not only will the 21st Century Cures Act benefit patients – it also includes commonsense reforms to reduce spending on Medicare and Medicaid in order to help temporarily fund this new medical research.”

“This an historic accomplishment, one which will help to modernize our health care system, improve the Food and Drug Administration process, and provide hope and relief to patients and their loved ones.  I am hopeful the 21st Century Cures Act will soon be considered and passed by the Senate and head to the President’s desk for signature.”

BACKGROUND:

There are 10,000 known diseases or conditions – 7,000 of which are rare – but there are treatments for only 500 of them.  Launched in May of 2014, the Energy and Commerce Committee’s 21st Century Cures initiative involved hearings in Washington, D.C. and roundtable discussions throughout the nation at which medical experts and patient advocates shared their perspective on how to best accelerate the pace of cures to help patients.  On October 22, 2014, Griffith held one such roundtable in Blacksburg with Congressman Phil Roe M.D. (R-TN) and a number of the region’s medical experts.  Ideas from these hearings and roundtables were used to craft the 21st Century Cures Act, which went on to pass the Energy and Commerce Committee on May 21, 2015 in a bipartisan vote of 51-0. 

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