Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) took to his Medium blog this week to highlight one of its most critically important facts about 21st Century Cures – putting patients first. The #Path2Cures has gained the support of tireless advocates and big names, but the effort to deliver #CuresNow has always been about the patients.

 The #Path2Cures: Putting Patients First

We first started our journey on the #Path2Cures over two and a half years ago. My partner, Colorado Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, and I sought to do something different from the get go. Every single American has been touched by disease in some fashion?—?and it was time that our cures caught up to the 21st century.

Brooke and Brielle Kennedy?—?the inspiration behind 21st Century Cures.

We have met some incredible folks along the way. From two little inspiring Michigan angels, Brooke and Brielle Kennedy who are the brightest lights despite having spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), to our friend seven-year-old Max, who is a rare disease patient, to high school senior Walter Whitt who brought a hushed silence to the halls of Congress in March when talking about his fight with cystic fibrosis. We have met some truly special and terrific kids?—?who may have caught a bad break, but maintain the sunniest of outlooks.

The Cures movement is only achievable if we work as a team. Each day, the path has welcomed more and more folks?—?and the momentum for Cures has gained steam with because of their efforts. With the help of Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and every voice on our committee, we’re pushing ahead.

What started as an idea culminated into dozens of roundtables in Washington and in the districts of our committee members. Representatives from both parties who were not on the committee also joined the effort with their own events. We wanted ideas and we listened. We drafted?—?and listened some more. Each day, more and more folks joined the effort from across the country. We worked hand in glove with the Obama administration?—?with the likes of NIH Director Francis Collins and FDA’s trifecta of Peggy Hamburg, Jeff Shuren, and Janet Woodcock. We were all on the #Path2Cures together, with a common goal?—?to deliver #CuresNow. We came up with a pressure-tested package that we can all be proud of?—?and most importantly, one that will make a difference in the lives of so many folks.

Meet Max, one of our tireless advocates.

From removing barriers to ensure collaboration, to modernizing the clinical trial pathway to boosting modern medical interventions, Cures is all about the discovery, development, and delivery of faster and safe cures.

The Health Subcommittee one year ago this week (May 14, 2015) approved the 21st Century Cures Act, which was swiftly followed by full committee passage.

And last July, the House approved the 21st Century Cures Act by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 344 to 77.

Walter Whitt, a high school senior, took time from his Spring Break to join our Conversation on Child Cures panel. Walter discussed his daily life with cystic fibrosis.

We have kept our foot on the gas, taking advantage of every legislative opportunity to advance our effort. Last fall, we achieved a $2 billion boost for NIH and $133 million in additional resources for the FDA?—?essentially securing the resources we had set out for 2016.

And in January, under the brightest of lights during the president’s State of the Union address, the Vice President’s “moon shot” to cure cancer was announced.

We immediately welcomed Joe Biden to the #Path2Cures?—?just like so many, the Vice President has his own agonizing story with disease. But working together, our potential for success continues to grow.

Talking with Vice President Biden on his moon shot, and the #Path2Cures.

Since that January evening, the Senate, under the leadership of Lamar Alexander has cleared 18 bills through the Senate HELP Committee that serve as the Senate’s version to the 21st Century Cures Act. Along the way rock legend and incredible teen cancer advocate Roger Daltrey joined the effort. Collectively, we have made great progress, and look forward to a vote on the Senate floor soon.

Roger Daltrey at our Conversation on Child Cures event in March 2016. Photo courtesy of William Snyder.

As we told the Vice President, we’ve got the rocket ship ready to go for his moon shot.

The good news is, we’ve already done most of the work. But the clock is ticking and this incredible opportunity for success must be realized. For so many patients and their loved ones, this effort is about time?—?and time is incredibly precious. It’s a heartbreaking reality?—?but one that must be kept in the forefront to ensure we all remember what we’re fighting for.

The momentum for Cures continues to grow?—?but there is a distinct urgency to this effort. What started out as an idea over two years ago has turned into a movement. Please join us as every single voice, every story makes the momentum to deliver #CuresNow that much stronger. For Brooke and Brielle. For Max. For Walter. And for Beau?—?working together, putting patients first, we will get the job done.

Click HERE to read the column online.

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