{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://cramer.house.gov/cures", "CRAMER: 21st Century Cures Act a Game Changer for Medical Research and Innovation", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "cramer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nNov. 30, 2016\nContact: 202-578-9428\n  \n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Congressman Kevin Cramer described\u00a0 the 21st\u00a0 Century Cures Act passed by the House of Representatives today as landmark legislation transforming how the United States treats disease and funds medical research.\u00a0 The bill \u2013 which is expected to pass the Senate next week \u2013 originated in the House Energy and Commerce Committee where Cramer is a member.\u00a0\nThe bill also includes H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which is one of the most significant reforms to the mental health system in more than a decade.\u00a0 Cramer was a cosponsor of H.R. 2646.\u00a0\n\u201cAll of us have suffered the pain of losing a loved one to a rare or deadly disease,\u201d said Cramer. \u201cAll too often, a child is robbed of a parent, or a spouse falls ill one day only to discover they have an incurable disease.\u00a0 These stories of loved ones we have lost are the motivators behind 21st Century Cures.\u00a0 I simply cannot overstate enough how this legislation is going to be a game changer.\u00a0 \u2018Cures\u2019 will remove the regulatory shackles from our scientists and allow the American medical industry to flourish.\u00a0 It also protects American medical and biomedical jobs and brings new hope for patients and their families who have run out of options.\u201d \nCramer said North Dakota hospital and health care professionals have reached out to him about their support of provisions in the bill that recognize new hospital outpatient departments, prevent the enforcement of the direct supervision regulations for outpatient therapeutic services at small rural hospitals, fund opioid abuse crisis programs, adjust socioeconomic status in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program and extend for five years the Rural Hospital Demonstration Program.\nIn advancing the legislation, Cramer said Energy and Commerce Committee members worked with more than 300 patient groups, as well as individual patients, researchers, academics, health professionals, innovators, the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health and the White House.\u00a0 \u201cThere are 10,000 known diseases, 7,000 which are rare, and treatments are available for only 500,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThe 21st Century Cures Act will allow scientists and regulators to fully embrace advances in research and bridge the gap between the number of diseases and available treatments.\u201d\nHighlights of the 21st Century Cures Act include:\nCatalyzes Cutting-Edge Research and personalized Drug Development \n Authorizes innovation prize competitions to advance biomedical science for diseases that are serious and represent a significant burden. (Section 2002)\n\tEstablishes the Precision Medicine Initiative to help researchers develop medicines tailored to individuals, rather than one-size-fits-all treatments. (Section 2011)\n\tProvides opportunities for new researchers and promotes earlier research independence. (Section 2021)\n\tSupports high-risk, high-reward research that has the potential to transform the scientific field. (Section 2036)\u00a0\n\tExpedites the development and review of drugs for subgroups of rare disease patients by authorizing FDA to rely on data submitted in previously approved applications involving similar gene targeting technology. (Section 3012)\n\tReauthorizes the pediatric priority review voucher program incentivizing the development of drugs for rare pediatric diseases. (Section 3013)\n Modernizes Clinical Trials and Evidence Development\n Directs FDA to provide clarity to drug developers about incorporating novel clinical trial designs into drug development. (Section 3021)\n\tSupports the utilization of real-world evidence in regulatory decision-making. (Section 3022)\n\tHarmonizes various regulations protecting patients in clinical trials to avoid duplication and unnecessary delays that researchers face on a daily basis. (Section 3023)\n\tAuthorizes FDA to rely upon qualified data summaries to support the approval of supplemental applications. (Section 3031)\n\tEstablishes an alternative approval pathway for sorely needed antimicrobial drugs intended for limited patient populations. (Section 3042)\n Brings FDA into the 21st Century\n Removes the silos at FDA by transitioning the agency towards a disease-centric approach. (Section 3073)\n\tCodifies a structured framework at FDA for the submission, review, and qualification of biomarkers that can be used to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a product earlier in the process. (Section 3011)\n\tFosters development and utilization of incredibly promising approaches to regenerative medicine. (Sections 3033 - 3036)\n\tReforms the flawed combination product review process to provide certainty to manufacturers developing these complex therapies and technologies. (Section 3038)\n\tProvides long-overdue clarification regarding how medical product manufacturers can discuss the value of therapies and technologies with insurers and formulary committees. (Section 3037)\n Improves Medical Device Review Process and Reduces Unnecessary Regulation \n Empowers FDA to apply efficient and flexible approaches to expedite the development and review of new medical technologies like the breakthrough path for drugs that Congress made law four years ago. (Section 3051)\n\tStreamlines medical device and diagnostic regulations and ensures FDA uses the least burdensome approaches necessary. (Sections 3052-3059)\n\tExempts certain software and personal health apps from FDA regulation. (Section 3060)\n Empowers Patients to Participate in Research and Development Activities \n Ensures that patients can voluntarily provide hospitals and research institutions authorization to use their personal health data for future research purposes. (Section 2063)\n\tPuts patients at the center of the drug development and FDA review process, requiring the FDA to routinely incorporate patient input and experiences into their regulatory decision-making. (Sections 3001-3004)\n Incentivizes the Development of Medical Counter Measures and Vaccines\u00a0 \n Establishes a priority review voucher program that encourages the development of drugs and vaccines to protect Americans against agents that present a national security threat, like a bioterror attack. (Section 3086)\n\tProvides current and potential vaccine manufacturers with more predictable CDC timeframes. (Section 3091-3093)\n Fosters Interoperable Health Records\n Expedites the interoperability of electronic health record systems to help make good on the $30 billion taxpayer investment and benefit patients, providers, and researchers. (Sections 4003-4006)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://cramer.house.gov/cures"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6500819474458694, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}