21st Century Cures Bill: Christmas Miracle Or Sack Full Of Gifts For Pharma?
Supporters tout the legislation as a way to fundamentally change the way diseases are treated in this country, but its critics are less than impressed.
Politico Pro:
Rhetoric Vs. Reality: The Hype Of 21st Century Cures
In a rare display of bipartisanship, a nearly 1,000 page, $6.3 billion medical research bill passed Congress this week. To hear lawmakers talk, the cure for hundreds of diseases are just around the corner. “Right now, there are 10,000 known diseases. We only have treatments for 500 of them. Cures will close that gap,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said of the 21st Century Cures Act on the House floor. “It will fundamentally transform the way that we treat and cure diseases in this country,” he added at a press conference on the bill. (Karlin-Smith, 12/9)
In other news from Capitol Hill —
CQ Roll Call:
Senate Clears Water Bill And Flint Aid Package
The Senate early Saturday cleared a water resources bill that would authorize nearly $11.7 billion for water infrastructure projects and $170 million to help Flint, Mich., repair its lead-tainted drinking water system. The vote was 78-21. It followed soon after the chamber cleared a continuing resolution late Friday (HR 2028) that avoided a government shutdown at the end of the day. Senators spent most of Friday arguing over the miners' benefits that were part of the CR. (Fishler, 12/10)
