Paul Tonko: “I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the so-called Right to…”

“I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the so-called Right to Try Act. This ideologically driven legislation is trying to solve a problem that simply doesn't exist. Every single Member of this body supports allowing terminally ill individuals to seek access to experimental treatments that could be potentially lifesaving. However, we have to do so in a structured way that won't undermine the role of the FDA in guaranteeing that the medications we all use are safe and are effective. I believe the FDA's current expanded access program meets that test by ensuring proper informed consent and adverse event reporting and establishes the appropriate safeguards around access to experimental drugs. The legislation before us would take the FDA out of the process completely and would allow a black market of snake oil salesmen to emerge, with unscrupulous companies selling untested drugs to a broad array of individuals, including those with manageable chronic conditions like diabetes. Make no mistake about it: this legislation offers false hope to seriously ill individuals and will put patients at risk.”