House Passes Bill to Advance Cures for Rare Diseases with LaHood Support

Statement

This week, Rep. LaHood voted for the 21st Century Cures Act, legislation to accelerate the development of life-saving cures and treatments for patients suffering from terminal diseases. This bill modernizes health care infrastructure by supporting research and innovation that can lead to new medication development, streamlining the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory process, and improving the review of medical devices while maintaining safety standards.

"Disease runs in every family, and we only have cures for 500 of the 10,000 known diseases people are suffering from. Scientific advancement has the potential to save lives--but red tape blocks the way and stifles innovation. We need to streamline the federal regulatory process and target funding towards research focused on expediting the discovery, development, and delivery of more treatments and cures," stated Rep. LaHood. "This bill also includes priorities for our district. It continues funding for the fight against heroin and opioid abuse, and includes key reforms of our mental health system in America--such as strengthening the mental health workforce and coordinating mental health programs. I hear constantly from constituents whose loved ones are suffering and even dying from diseases without treatment or a cure. This bill is for them. It's a huge step towards relief and hope for patients and their families across America."

The 21st Century Cures Act allocates $4.8 billion in fully offset funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research and development, $500 million to the FDA for regulatory modernization to get drugs and medical devices to patients who need them more quickly, and $1 billion for grants to states to supplement the fight against heroin and opioid abuse through expanded treatment and prevention programs. It passed the House by a vote of 392-26.

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