Legislative Background on the 21st Century Cures Act
Recent Action by Congress on Medical Research and Innovation
On December 13, 2016, President Barack Obama signed into law the 21st Century Cures Act. The bill, which was the culmination of at least two years of hearings, roundtables, and other forums conducted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, followed by a year of negotiation, is a package of initiatives that includes: $4.8 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over 10 years for programs that include Vice President Joe Biden’s “Cancer Moonshot,” research on brain-related diseases, and a Precision Medicine Initiative. $500 million over nine years for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry…
