Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
New Draft Of Long-Awaited 'Cures' Bill Nears Completion
The Hill: Details Could Come Wednesday For New 'Cures' Bill
Senior members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are close to completing a new draft of their long-awaited 21st Century Cures bill, which could be released as early as Wednesday. Committee chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and ranking member Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) are expected to release the latest draft of the legislation after a joint trip to Upton’s home state of Michigan to promote their initiative, which aims to speed up the development of new medicines and treatments. (Ferris, 4/20)
CQ Healthbeat: House Members Close To Narrowing Down 'Cures' Package
The biggest piece of health care legislation still to be decided by Congress this year could begin taking shape as soon as this week, when House lawmakers narrow down the list of provisions to be included in a bill aimed at spurring new medical treatments. The so-called 21st Century Cures initiative was introduced in draft form earlier this year by House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., after dozens of roundtable discussions and hearings. The hefty document was essentially a compendium of any provision that an interest group requested that had any support in Congress. (Zanona, 4/20)
In other action on Capitol Hill -
The Washington Post: Pressure Mounts For Loretta Lynch Vote, But No Deal Yet
The Senate wrapped up its business last week with high hopes that a solution might be at hand to break an impasse that has delayed a confirmation vote for attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch for more than six weeks. By the end of Monday's Senate business, no such deal was in place. But senators of both parties said an agreement was close at hand and could be announced on Tuesday. Democrats have filibustered a bill cracking down on human trafficking due to abortion restrictions embedded within it, and Republicans have vowed not to move forward with Lynch's confirmation until the trafficking bill is dealt with. After weeks of gridlock, leaders of both parties sounded optimistic on Thursday that a deal could be hashed out over the weekend. (DeBonis, 4/20)
The Washington Post: House Republicans Take Issue With Another D.C. Law
After months of fiery rhetoric and even a threat to jail the mayor, conservative House Republicans on Tuesday are poised to take yet another swipe at the District’s liberal leaders by trying to throw out a new law. For the first time in 23 years, a powerful House committee has scheduled a vote to upend a D.C. law that bans employers from discriminating based on reproductive health decisions. Some conservatives have interpreted the bill to mean that employers in the District, including religious organizations, could eventually be required to provide coverage for contraception and abortions. (Davis, 4/20)
St. Louis Public Radio: Blunt Wants To Boost Funding For NIH
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt says that he wants to use his key position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to boost funding for research. The Republican senator recently became the chairman an Appropriations subcommittee that controls federal funding for the National Institutes of Health. He said during a visit to Washington University’s Alzheimer’s Research Center that he wants to make funding for the agency a priority. (Rosenbaum, 4/21)
