{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/congressman-harris-focuses-improving-national-institutes-health", "Congressman Harris Focuses on Improving the National Institutes of Health", "2015-01-28", "2015", "2015-01", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC:\u00a0 Yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released their \u201c21st Century Cures Discussion Draft,\u201d which includes several provisions advocated for by Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01). \u00a0The \u201c21st Century Cures Discussion Draft\u201d proposes bold action to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of promising new treatments and cures for patients, as well as maintains our nation\u2019s standing as the biomedical innovation capital of the world. \u00a0Congressman Harris\u2019 provisions focus on more funding for young scientists during their peak age of discovery, increasing investments in high-risk high-reward projects, and increasing efficiency at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).\n\u201cAs a physician who also conducted research, I have seen the tremendous benefits that medical innovations can bring to patients,\u201d said Harris. \u201cI also saw firsthand how the most innovative thinking frequently came from younger scientists, which is why we need to prioritize funding for young researchers.\u201d\nThe Energy and Commerce Committee requested feedback on the provisions added by Congressman Harris.\u00a0 \u201cMy hope is that individuals who are passionate about seeing NIH-funded research foster quicker cures for diseases will embrace the changes and offer constructive feedback to the discussion draft that Chairmen Upton and Pitts have worked hard to put together,\u201d Harris added. \u201cI welcome discussion with any stakeholders who want to better understand the reasoning behind my provisions.\u201d\nCongressman Harris, the only member of Congress to have conducted NIH-funded research, sits on the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees NIH funding. \u00a0He is also the only member not part of the Energy and Commerce Committee to have multiple provisions included in the discussion draft. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, he has advocated for funding more young scientists during their peak age of discovery and improving the efficiency of NIH-funding. \u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe following provisions were supported by Congressman Harris and are included in the discussion draft:\n\u00a0\nTITLE II\u2014BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR 21ST CENTURY MEDICINE, INCLUDING HELPING YOUNG SCIENTISTS Pages 216-222\nSUBTITLE O\u2014HELPING YOUNG EMERGING SCIENTISTS\nThese sections (2261-2262), authored by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), would establish a program at NIH to help young emerging scientists.\nSUBTITLE P\u2014FOSTERING HIGH-RISK, HIGH-REWARD SCIENCE\nThis provision (Section 2281), led by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), would require NIH to support projects that pursue innovative approaches to major challenges in biomedical research that are high-risk, but have the potential to lead to breakthroughs.\n\u00a0\nTITLE IV\u2014ACCELERATING THE DISCOVERY, DEVELOPMENT, AND DELIVERY CYCLE AND CONTINUING 21ST CENTURY INNOVATION AT NIH, FDA, CDC, AND CMS \u2013 Pages 240-252\nSection 4001 \u2013 NIH research strategic investment plan\nSection 4001, based on the work of Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), would require NIH to issue a strategic plan.\nSection 4002 \u2013 Biomedical research working group to reduce administrative burden on researchers\nSection 4002, led by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), would establish a working group composed of NIH and stakeholders to provide recommendations on how to streamline the grant process for researchers.\nSection 4004 \u2013 Increasing accountability at the National Institutes of Health\nSection 4004, based on the work of Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-TX) and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), would\nprovide the NIH Director with more authority over the institutes and centers at NIH.\n\u00a0\n###", 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://harris.house.gov/press-release/congressman-harris-focuses-improving-national-institutes-health"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6544670797884464, "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"}