Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of the Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act before us today. Mr. Speaker, I was an original cosponsor of the House version of this bill introduced in June 2009. To date, there are 141 Members from both sides of the aisle who have cosponsored that House bill. The Senate version passed unanimously last month, and I urge all Members to support this needed legislation. This bill would allow Americans with serious diseases to retain the benefits they need while they help find treatments and cures for themselves and others with similar afflictions. In the field of medicine, clinical trials are an important tool to find new and more effective treatments for incapacitating and often deadly diseases. Under current NIH standards, sponsors of clinical research may provide modest payments to trial participants for their out-of-pocket costs and time spent participating in the trial. Such payments average about $500 per participant. That compensation must be provided to all participants if it is offered to any to ensure financial concerns don't affect the outcome of such trials. That means individuals cannot opt to not be paid for their participation in clinical trials. Yet, under current law, such payments also must be counted as income in determining an individual's eligibility for SSI disability payments and Medicaid coverage, if they receive those benefits.…”