Lawmakers see new momentum for ‘cures’ initiative

The leaders of the House Energy and Commerce are pressing forward with their 21st Century Cures initiative, intended to speed up the development of new medicines and treatments, despite early signs of political differences.

Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and ranking member Rep. Diana Degette (D-Colo.) announced through a Facebook video on Friday that they will be attending events in Michigan to promote the legislation

“It’s not actually bipartisan legislation. It’s nonpartisan legislation,” Upton said in the video. “There’s no family that won’t be impacted by this.”

{mosads}Details about the long-awaited bill – which Upton has promised by Memorial Day – are expected to be released next week.

“We’re anxious to get it moving through the Congress,” he said.

Upton had released a 13-page preview of the legislation in January, but Degette did not back it.

“While I don’t endorse the draft document, I know that with continued engagement, we can reach a bipartisan consensus to help advance biomedical research and cures,” she wrote in a statement then.  

The pair also published a joint op-ed in the Detroit Free Press on Friday that highlights their plans for the legislation.

The much-touted bipartisan initiative is the result of more than 18 months of discussions with industry groups and lawmakers.