#RecordOfSuccess Grows as House Clears Three More Bills to Help Patients and Local Communities
Press Release
The Energy and Commerce Committee's bipartisan record of success continued today as the House of Representatives approved three more bills to help patients and local communities. The House approved H.R. 639, the Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act, H.R. 647, the Access to Life-Saving Trauma Care for All Americans Act, and H.R. 648, the Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act.
H.R. 639, the Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act, authored by Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA), full committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX), was approved by a voice vote. This bill seeks to improve the transparency and consistency of the Drug Enforcement Agency's scheduling of Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments so these drugs can get to patients more efficiently.
Speaking in support of this bill, Chairman Pitts said, "Ultimately this will allow new and innovative treatments to get to patients who desperately need them. Due to the cost and uncertainty of the drug development process, there is broad agreement that a predictable timeline for approval decisions is a necessary component to successful drug development."
H.R. 647, the Access to Life-Saving Trauma Care for All Americans Act, and H.R. 648, the Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act, were both authored Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX). These two bills would strengthen trauma care systems to help ensure patients in communities all across the country have access to this vital life-saving care.
Speaking in support of these bills Dr. Burgess said, "Trauma can happen at anytime to anyone. It can happen to a family in a highway crash, or a gunshot victim, or a construction worker who is injured at the work site. Trauma centers must be available for all victims of traumatic injury. Getting a trauma victim to a trauma center right away is the first step in saving that person's life."
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