U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-5) applauds House passage of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act (Cures), H.R. 6, which will transform the way we discover, develop and deliver new treatments and cures for disease, including new tools to combat the nation's drug abuse epidemic. 

There are 10,000 known diseases, but we only have cures and treatments for 500 of them. The Cures act includes $4.8 million in new funding for the National Institutes of Health to advance research for projects like the Precision Medicine Initiative, the "Cancer Moonshot," and the BRAIN initiative to enhance our understanding about diseases like Alzheimer's. It also authorizes $1 billion in grants over the next two years for states to fight drug addiction and $500 million for the Food and Drug Administration over the next decade to fast-track approval of critical medications and devices.

"The historic Cures act is a bill of hope for those suffering with life-changing and life-threating diseases," said Congressman Rogers, who voted for the legislation. "It will improve treatment options for those struggling to overcome drug addiction, it will enhance approval for vital therapies, spur development of cures for pediatric diseases, expedite innovative research for cancer and other illnesses, while also reforming mental health care. It will undoubtedly prove to be life-saving legislation for future generations." 

The bill also lifts barriers for Medicare patients who rely on clinics in rural communities, allowing doctors and other medical providers to access more resources and deliver better care for seniors.

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, funding for the bill is fully offset on a year-by-year basis, rather than spending now and saving later.

The Cures act now heads to the Senate for consideration.

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