Blunt Votes to Speed Progress Toward Life-Saving Cures

Press Release

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies, today commended Senate passage of the 21st Century Cures Act. The measure, which passed the House last week and is now headed to the president's desk, continues Blunt-led efforts to boost medical research, advance the Precision Medicine Initiative, improve access to mental and behavioral health services, and address the opioid epidemic.

"When everyone in your family is well, you have lots of problems; when someone is sick, you only have one problem," Blunt said. "Today, the Senate took a major step toward helping every family that has faced, or will face, an incurable disease by accelerating progress toward life-saving cures. As chairman of the Labor/HHS appropriations subcommittee, I've been proud to lead efforts to increase resources for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health. I'm glad to see that priority reflected in this bill, but there is still more that needs to be done. That's why I will continue working through the appropriations process to establish a pattern of responsibly investing in groundbreaking research, especially in areas such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease, and the Precision Medicine and BRAIN Initiatives."

In addition to investing in biomedical research, the 21st Century Cures Act streamlines red tape to dramatically reduce the time and costs associated with the approval process for new treatments and therapies, while ensuring they remain safe and effective. The bill facilitates increased research collaboration and gives NIH the ability to eliminate wasteful paperwork. It focuses on finding treatments for rare pediatric diseases and antibiotic-resistant superbugs. And, it improves the interoperability of electronic health records to ensure they are accessible by patients, hospitals, and doctors.

Blunt continued, "I'm also proud that the 21st Century Cures Act addresses two other areas I have focused on as chairman: improving mental health and addressing the opioid epidemic. Nearly one in five Americans suffer from a behavioral or mental health issue. And, nearly two million Americans have an opioid use disorder related to prescription pain relievers. This bill will help more Americans get the help they need, and both of these issues will continue to be a priority for me in the year ahead."

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