{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393342", "Upton roundtable hears from MPIs William Parfet, national health leaders", "2014-09-12", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The House Energy and Commerce Committee heard this week from an all-star panel of leaders in the health industry as part of the committee\u2019s bipartisan 21st Century Cures initiative. Launched this spring by Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, 21st Century Cures is taking the first-ever comprehensive look at how treatments are discovered, developed, and delivered here in the United States. By listening to experts from around the country, Upton can help determine how to best accelerate that process. By making sure federal policy keeps pace with advances in science and technology, we can get life-saving therapies and cures to patients faster while also keeping America the medical innovation capital of the world.\u201cThe 21st Century Cures initiative affects every American as they, their families, or their friends have been affected by disease,\u201d began Upton. Among those sharing their expertise with lawmakers was the head of Mattawan, Mich.-based scientific research company MPI Research. William Parfet spoke about the need for collaboration between innovators in the private sector and government regulators to advance technologies and treatments at greater speeds and reduced costs. \u201cIt\u2019s so hard for regulations to keep pace. It\u2019s so hard for regulations to really help allow for new innovative methods to be tested and used,\u201d said Parfet, who is chairman and chief executive officer of the privately held firm. Parfet was joined on the impressive panel by the Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell; National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins; Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg; philanthropist Michael Milken; renowned inventor Dean Kamen; and Dr. Dan Theodorescu, director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. \u201cThis really has been a collaborative effort, and we need everyone to continue providing us with specific ideas \u2013 none too big, none too small \u2013 about how we can make a significant reduction in the time and costs associated with the discovery, development, and delivery of safe and innovative new treatments and cures for patients who need them,\u201d said Upton. Members of the public may continue to submit ideas via cures@mail.house.gov. The public is also encouraged to join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #Path2Cures. Click here to watch this week\u2019s roundtable \u00a0Click here to learn more about 21st Century Cures", 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://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393342"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8762250654399395, "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"}