Rounds Issues Statement on Senate Passage of 21st Century Cures Act
Includes provisions co-sponsored by Rounds
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued a statement following the Senate’s passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, a comprehensive bill to advance the development of medical treatments and find cures to a number of diseases that affect millions of Americans each year. It includes provisions co-sponsored by Rounds, including the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act.
“Sadly, most Americans have felt the impact of devastating diseases like cancer or Alzheimer’s,” said Rounds. “The 21st Century Cures Act gives renewed hope to millions by providing dedicated funding to medical research, with the hopes of finding cures to diseases that affect so many. I look forward to seeing it signed into law by the president.”
The 21st Century Cures Act provides $1 billion in state grants over a two year period to fight against opioid abuse and other costly diseases. It also strengthens and improves mental health programs for the first time in over a decade, encourages innovation to boost competition in the prescription drug marketplace to make sure drugs are affordable for Americans, and supports Vice President Joe Biden’s moonshot to find cures for cancer. It includes surges of dedicated funding for cancer, Alzheimer’s and other disease research.
The House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Cures Act last week by a vote of 392-26, and the president has indicated he will sign it into law.
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