Rep. DeGette predicts bipartisan 21st Century Cures bill

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Co.) expects that she and the majority of U.S. House Democrats will support 21st Century Cures legislation that the House Energy & Commerce Committee is drafting. Speaking at the BIO CEO conference on Monday, DeGette said she had not endorsed a discussion draft released in January "because it was a work in progress." DeGette said her staff is working closely with the staff of committee chairman Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), and that they will meet together with FDA representatives this week to refine the draft, which includes some provisions likely to raise objections at FDA (see BioCentury, Feb. 9).

Upton said at the conference he plans to release "version 2.0" of the draft "in a couple of weeks," to introduce a bill "shortly thereafter," and to have legislation pass the House by Memorial Day. He predicted that the Senate will produce a "skinnier" bill, and said he hopes to have the two versions reconciled and presented to President Obama before the end of 2015. ...