Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee, told The Hill a Senate bill that is companion to the House's 21st Century Cures Act is likely to be ready for the floor by the end of next week.
Specifically, Sen. Alexander said, "The House has passed it with a big vote, the president's interested in it, and we're nearly through with our work, so let's put it this way: I think it's likely to be ready for the floor by the end of the week, or shortly thereafter." He added, "Whether it comes to the floor is up to the majority leader."
The act seeks to accelerate the drug approval process in the Food and Drug Administration and increase medical research funding, according to the report. Though it has been passed in the House, it has hit some speed bumps in the Senate due to disagreements on funding research at the National Institutes of Health, which would likely total near $9 billion, based on the House proposal, according to the report. Democrats say mandatory funding is dealbreaker, which many Republicans do not support, according to the report.
Sen. Alexander told The Hill it was possible to reach an agreement on NIH funding by the end of next week, "but we'll see." He said he hopes putting the bill on the floor will help the Senate come to an agreement, according to the report.
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