Passes U.S. House of Representatives
Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield’s (D-NC) bill, H.R. 4439, the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act incentivizes the pharmaceutical industry to develop treatments and cures for children with rare life-threatening conditions, including cancer, through an extension of the rare pediatric disease priority review voucher program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Congressman Butterfield released the following statement on the House passage of his bill:
“The House passage of this important legislation is a strong symbol of hope for every child and their family who faces the devastation of a cancer or a life-threatening rare pediatric disease diagnosis. As the co-chair of both the Childhood Cancer Caucus and the Rare Disease Caucus, I am hopeful and encouraged by the passage of a four-year extension of this critical program. Enactment of my bill will ensure that this program can continue to incentivize research and lead to the creation of life-changing and life-saving treatments for children and their families. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues in the House of Representative and I look forward to the swift passage of this bill in the Senate.”