A Bipartisan Plan to Accelerate Medical Breakthroughs

Statement

Dear Friend,

As we mark Memorial Day tomorrow, I join you in honoring the service of our brave men and women in uniform and upholding our commitment to our veterans. Many of our nation's sons and daughters -- in both recent times and throughout our history -- have made the ultimate sacrifice. These Americans answered the call to serve, not for recognition, but to defend our nation. This display of selflessness and courage will continue to inspire Americans for generations to come.

A Bipartisan Plan to Accelerate Medical Breakthroughs

Recently, I joined Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) to announce the launch of 21st Century Cures, a new initiative that aims to accelerate the pace of cures and medical breakthroughs in the United States. Despite the gridlock and dysfunction in Washington, we all agree that America must maintain its place as the health care innovation capital of the world.

Health research moves at a rapid pace, but the federal drug and device approval process is in many ways a relic of another era. Our nation has dedicated scientists and bold leaders at agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but when our laws don't keep pace with innovation, we risk falling behind.

That is why, for the first time ever, Chairman Upton and I are going to take a comprehensive look at what steps we can take to accelerate the pace of cures in America. This bipartisan effort will take a broad look at the full arc of the process -- from the discovery of clues in basic science, to streamlining the drug and device development process, to unleashing the power of digital medicine and social media at the treatment level.

We are seeking the input of a number of experts including thought leaders from the Administration, academia, research, and industry to dig deep into how we can effectively and efficiently tackle some of the more complex challenges in medicine.

At The Atlantic's Future of Medicine: A Conversation on Cost and Value event this past Wednesday, I joined Newsweek Contributing Editor Matthew Cooper to discuss the 21st Century Cures initiative in depth.

As always, I encourage you to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on the latest news from Washington and in Colorado. Also, you can visit my website at www.degette.house.gov, where you can read my positions on issues and learn about the different ways my staff can assist you. While you're there, be sure to visit the "Contact" page and send me an email about what matters most to you and your family. Finally, be sure to share this email with your friends, family, and neighbors so that they too can be a part of this important dialogue.

Sincerely,

Diana DeGette
Member of Congress

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