WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) issued the following statement today regarding House passage of H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act:
“America should be the world leader in medical innovation, and the 21st Century Cures Act sets the stage for us to re-claim that mantle. Three years in the making, the 21st Century Cures Act will make much-needed, bold reforms to the FDA so we can bring life-saving drugs to market faster and spur innovation that will lead to cures for millions of Americans, while also confronting the mental health crisis plaguing every community in our country.
“I’ve become increasingly aware of the tragedy of major diseases through my work on the Steve Gleason Act. This bill will dramatically help those suffering from diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other debilitating diseases by setting new priorities with existing dollars focused on research and the development of treatments and cures.
“If not for the hard work, leadership and vision of Chairman Fred Upton, this historic, bipartisan legislation would not have gotten this far. Chairman Upton never gave up and as a result, millions of families now have real hope that cures to terrible diseases will finally become a reality.”