Sessions Calls Passage of 21st Century Cures Act a “Historic Opportunity” to Modernize Health Care Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), chairman of the House Rules Committee, today issued the following statement after voting in support of the 21st Century Cures Act, an effort led by House Republicans to modernize and personalize health care, encourage innovation, support research and streamline drug and device approval, which passed the House:

“The United States can and must remain the leader in medical innovation, and this legislation will ensure that when the science to develop cures is there, federal red tape does not stand in the way of it reaching those who need it most. As a conservative, I tend to be skeptical of taxpayer dollars going towards so-called investments, yet I believe funding for medical research is a rare area in which the federal government has a unique role to play. By investing in this research now, we can save billions of dollars later.

“As the father of a young man with Down syndrome, I know what it is like – as so many Americans do – to see a loved one be faced with health challenges. With the passage of this comprehensive, well-researched and bipartisan bill, it is my hope that we can use this historic opportunity to uncover the next generation of cures and treatments for thousands of known diseases so that people like my son Alex can continue to live long and full lives. I applaud the work of the Energy and Commerce Committee and my colleagues for their devotion to this issue, and I was proud to support this important bill today.”

###

Created:
Jul 10, 2015