Kathy Castor: “I thank the ranking member for his leadership and for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, S. 204 is harmful legislation that…”

“I thank the ranking member for his leadership and for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, S. 204 is harmful legislation that offers a false hope of access to investigational therapies and endangers patients who have serious and life-threatening diseases. The bill establishes a dangerous and unnecessary alternative pathway that is void of any FDA review or oversight. It is opposed overwhelmingly by the patient community. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter to the Speaker and minority leader from 104 patient advocacy groups. It includes such groups as the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Lung Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation--all opposed to this bill--the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and about 100 more. May 21, 2018. Hon. Paul Ryan, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. The Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi: The undersigned organizations collectively represent millions of patients with serious and life-threatening diseases. We write to express our strong opposition to the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act (S. 204). On March 21st, The House of Representatives passed a version of the Right to Try Act (H.R.…”