On the recordDecember 5, 2016
4 years ago I climbed the Capitol steps for those who could not. I vowed to return to the Senate to create and establish a standard of care for rehabilitation in this legislation to make sure many people can have access to the best rehab, as I did. With the passage of the Cures Act tomorrow, we will achieve this lofty goal. The Cures Act also contains bipartisan provisions to provide accelerated approval of regenerative medicines and therapies. The Regrow Act, which is also in this bill, is a major step forward so that Americans will not have to go to other countries for their own stem cells to be used in their own therapy. Making sure this faster approval process happens in this bill means that many more people will be able to receive advanced stem cell therapies that are also available overseas, right here at home. I would like to thank everybody. We have made progress with the FDA. I championed with Senators Collins and Manchin on this. I thank my senior colleague from Tennessee for all of his action on the Regrow Act so we can make the fundamental point of using your own stem cells to accelerate healing. In the case of using your own stem cells, they already have your exact DNA match. I think it is wise that we go through a shorter process. I thank the Senator for putting the Kirk language in the Regrow Act. I yield the floor.
