Rokita Statement on 21st Century Cures Act

Statement

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act. The bill creates a new mandatory spending program. House Budget Committee Vice-Chairman, Representative Todd Rokita (IN-04), along with other Members of Congress, supported an amendment to fund the program through the discretionary spending process versus creating a new mandatory spending program. Permanent spending programs already represent two-thirds of all federal spending. Just last year, federal spending added half a trillion to our national debt, bringing the total to over eighteen trillion dollars.

After the bill passed, Rep. Rokita (IN-04) issued the following statement:

"Curing diseases like cancer, Angelman syndrome, and multiple sclerosis is obvious in its importance. Efforts to cure diseases have been going on for decades with both private sector and, constitutional issues aside, government support. Everyone wants to see these diseases eliminated.

"I was dismayed that H.R. 6 did not respect the importance of research funding by reducing other spending priorities to responsibly pay for the program. Prioritizing our goals is the only way we are going to reduce our $18 trillion in debt. The test is simple: If a program is a new, high priority, then what should become less of a priority? Once again, Congress voted not to make that decision, passing on more of financial burden to our future generations.

"Instead, H.R.6 circumvents the appropriations process and violates the budget agreement that Members agreed to merely months ago. After working in Congress for four-and-a-half years, I have yet to see a permanent spending program sunset as this bill fancifully claims. The inexcusable part about all of this, is that the budget-appropriations process allows for multi-year, non-permanent funding, paid for with real cuts to other programs without creating another permanent spending burden. Such mechanisms could have been incorporated into H.R. 6 to ensure that we can responsibly fund a new, high priority program without adding to our national debt."

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