House Passes 21st Century Cures: Bipartisan Legislation to Bring New Hope for Millions of Patients in Need

WASHINGTON – Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R.6 – the 21st Century Cures Act:

“This important bipartisan legislation will bring America’s healthcare innovation into the 21st Century. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, of which I’m a member, has taken a very comprehensive look over the last year at the steps we can take to accelerate the pace of bringing new medical innovations, new life-saving medications, and new cures to the people that need them most. There is almost no one that hasn’t experienced the heartache of seeing a loved one suffer as they fight an incurable disease. There are approximately 10,000 known diseases worldwide, but we only have treatments for about 500 of them. This is unacceptable, and we must do better.

“It is also important to note that funding for this legislation ensures that real dollars will flow to vital health research – and this spending is fully offset. The mandatory savings included in H.R. 6 will lead to billions of dollars in additional savings to Medicare and Medicaid. This is a win for patients and their families, for America’s medical innovators, and for taxpayers.

“We have seen some amazing advances in science and technology over the last few years, but to make these medical marvels available to those who need them, we must work to close the gap between a researcher’s breakthrough and a patient’s recovery. For these reasons, I was proud to join a majority of my colleagues in supporting this groundbreaking legislation.”