VIDEO: Leading on #Cures2015

Press Release

Ahead of this week's consideration of H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act, the House leadership team held a press conference to discuss the upcoming floor vote and share their support for the #Cures2015 legislation. Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), and Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) shared their thoughts on why we need 21st Century Cures, including more personal stories about the individuals all across the country who stand to benefit.

Speaker Boehner: "Today in America, we have thousands of diseases to fight and the best minds in the world are on the front lines of that fight. But our researchers need more tools and fewer roadblocks, and that's what the 21st Century Cures initiative will provide. I recently heard from a woman in Cincinnati whose sister suffered from pancreatic cancer. She said this initiative, and I'll quote, "it's my definition of hope.'"

Leader McCarthy: "The 21st Century Cures Act takes meaningful steps to revamp our health innovation apparatus so we can continue to deliver safe, effective treatments more efficiently and creatively not just in the Central Valley, but in the nation as a whole. … This bold 21st Century Cures initiative has demonstrated the power of leadership and bipartisanship in the House."

Whip Scalise: The 21st Century Cures Act is, "Not only something that's going to not only lead to more cures of diseases, something that is going to help the medical community to be able to focus more specifically on solving and curing diseases, but something that's actually going to reduce the deficit. Not often here do you see Republicans and Democrats coming together to move important legislation forward while also being fiscally responsible."

Chair McMorris Rodgers: "21st Century Cures offers hope to people across the country suffering from currently incurable and untreatable diseases, and offers the promise of real solutions. In my Eastern Washington district, we recently mourned the death of a visionary leader -- Washington State University President Elson Floyd, who lost his battle with colon cancer. He and millions of other parents, brothers and sisters, and kids lost to horrible diseases serve as powerful reminders of why finding cures is so important."