[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 172 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        21ST CENTURY CURES BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday the House passed the 21st 
Century Cures bill with overwhelming bipartisan support, and I hope to 
see the same in the Senate. The medical innovation bill is one that can 
have a substantial impact for families across our country. It supports 
medical research, including promoting regenerative medicine. It 
provides real funding to help combat the prescription opioid epidemic 
that swept our Nation, particularly in places such as my home State of 
Kentucky. It improves mental health programs, among other bipartisan 
priorities.
  I thank Senator Alexander, chairman of the HELP Committee, for his 
tireless work in driving this critical legislation forward. We should 
also thank Senator Hatch, who worked with our Finance colleagues on a 
significant number of Medicare provisions in the package to protect 
care for America's seniors. I would like to note the great work by 
Senator Cornyn and Senator Cassidy to incorporate key mental health 
reforms into the Cures legislation.
  Let's work together to send it to the President's desk as soon as 
possible.

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