Passed 94-5 by the Senate today, bipartisan bill provides $4.8 billion for NIH research into more effective cures and treatments, including support for the Precision Medicine, BRAIN, and “Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot” initiatives
Bill also includes critical reforms pushed by Sen. Murray to better incorporate women, children and minority populations into NIH-supported research
Also launches a task force on research specific to pregnant and breastfeeding women
Bill now headed to President’s desk to be signed into law
Washington state ranks #8 in the nation for amount of NIH funding received—bill will benefit patients, researchers, nonprofits, and universities across the state
Sen. Murray: “This bipartisan bill provides real investments and reforms for NIH that are critical to Washington state patients, families, and our economy.”
(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, applauded the Senate passage of a bipartisan bill, the 21st Century Cures Act, which invests in a wide range of health priorities, including strong investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Cures Act provides $4.8 billion over the next 10 years for NIH to boost research on lifesaving cures and treatments, including support for the Precision Medicine Initiative, the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, and the “Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot” Initiative.
“I am pleased that this bipartisan bill makes real investments in NIH-funded research and implements important reforms at NIH—both of which are critical to Washington state patients, families, and our economy,” said Senator Murray. “These efforts will help drive innovative and more diverse research on lifesaving cures and treatments for our hardest-to-treat diseases. I will work to build on this progress and support increased federal investments in research that offers hope to patients and families across the country.”
In order to ensure all Americans benefit from this new research, Senator Murray pushed for policy changes that will require NIH to improve the inclusion of diverse populations in research, including women, individuals of all ages, members of the LGBT community, and racial and ethnic minorities.
Building on Senator Murray’s longstanding commitment to improve and expand women’s access to health care, the bill will also establish a task force to address gaps in knowledge and research regarding safe and effective therapies for pregnant women and breastfeeding women.
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