WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s State of the Union Address and the bipartisan 21st Century Cures initiative. For the past year, Chairman Upton, along with Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) have led a discussion about the discovery, development, and delivery cycle of new cures and treatments in the United States. Through four white papers, eight hearings, and several roundtable discussions, 21st Century Cures has engaged leaders including Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, and National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins. Over the weekend, Chairman Upton called each of these leaders to thank them for their support and input throughout this process and request that President Obama consider 21st Century Cures as an area of bipartisan agreement to pursue in 2015. The committee plans to release a Discussion Draft in the coming days and looks forward to continued conversation as the quest to accelerate the pace of cures in the United States continues.
“21st Century Cures is about hope. We seek to provide hope to patients and families all across the country who are desperate for new cures and treatments. We also seek to provide hope to those who have seen Washington as a partisan city incapable of getting things done. As we look toward this new year and new Congress, I am encouraged by the bipartisan achievements we have already made throughout the 21st Century Cures initiative and grateful for the support of top administration officials," said Upton. “I hope that President Obama will consider joining our effort to boost jobs, ensuring the United States remains the epicenter of innovation, and help bridge the gap between the incredible advances made in science and how we in Washington actually regulate those therapies. There is no issue more important to families all across the country."
For a complete history of this effort, visit the Cures webpage here, like the initiative on Facebook, follow @ECcures, and join the conversation using #Path2Cures.
