News and Press Releases.

MCCAUL'S CREATING HOPE ACT GOING TO THE PRESIDENT

(JUNE 27TH, 2012)

In a rare display of bi-partisanship in this session of the U.S. Congress, district 10 Congressman Michael McCaul along with North Carolina Democrat G.K. Butterfield, have successfully pushed through legislation to give pharmaceutical corporations an incentive to develop new drugs for children with rare pediatric diseases, such as childhood cancers and sickle cell anemia.

McCaul’s district, which includes Brenham and Washington County, co-authored the ‘Creating Hope Act of 2011.

The U.S. Senate has passed the bill now, and it is going to the President’s desk for his signature.

Congressman McCaul, who is chair of the bipartisan Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus says that ‘every now and then we get the opportunity to really make a difference in the lives of others.’ McCaul says that the Creating Hope Act has the ability to actually save lives and hand down a better America to our children.

The Act expands the cost neutral Food and Drug Administration review voucher program, allowing companies to expedite FDA review of more profitable drugs in return for developing treatments. Since 1980 the FDA has approved only one new drug for treatment of childhood cancer, compared to dozens for adults.

The congressman had a lot of incentive himself. Constituents Tim and Donna Culliver lost their son, Adam, to leukemia in January of 2003. Since then they have been active in supporting families afflicted with childhood cancer but they have worked closely with Congressman McCaul to pass legislation to help children with rare childhood diseases.

UPDATE ON THE CREATING HOPE ACT - July 10, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Obama signed legislation Monday that included the bipartisan Creating Hope Act, authored by Congressmen Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and G. K. Butterfield (D-N.C,).

The Creating Hope Act of 2011 provides market incentives to pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs for children with rare pediatric diseases, such as childhood cancers and sickle cell. Originally HR 3059, the Creating Hope Act was passed as part of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safety and Innovation Act.