Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the chairman for all of his hard work on this great bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to talk about the incredible impact the 21st Century Cures Act would have on so many Americans.

Deadly diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, ALS, and more affect each and every one of us. Within Cures, one will find the voices of patients, doctors, advocacy groups, and families I have met with from throughout Florida's 12th Congressional District. I am proud to say that a lot of their input is reflected in this final bill.

Samantha Lindsay, from Lutz, Florida, has Alpha-1, which is a rare genetic condition that results in serious lung problems. When we met, she talked about the need to use biomarkers for the faster approval of drugs for rare diseases. We did that. We have a framework for biomarker qualifications in this legislation.

Wayne Taylor, from Hudson, Florida, was a leukemia patient. He talked about the difficulty of participating in the clinical trials that eventually saved his life. This bill has reforms to make clinical trials more patient-focused and input-driven.

Dr. David Morgan, the CEO of the Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute at the University of South Florida, talked about the need for stable funding for Alzheimer's and about reforming institutional review boards.

This bill invests in the NIH, and it reforms the IRB system. Cures also includes my provisions to reform the FDA's Office of Combination Products in order to streamline the approval of these products; to establish a new Medicare Web site to help seniors price shop; and to allow physical therapists to enter into locum tenens arrangements so they can take maternity leave or sick time without having to turn away patients.

For many families, including my own, the potential impact of 21st Century Cures could change their lives. Let's get this meaningful bill across the finish line.

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