Banks Supports Right to Try Legislation, Bill Heads to President Trump’s Desk
Washington,
May 22, 2018
Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) today released the following statement after voting for legislation that would allow patients with a terminal illness or life-threatening condition to access potentially life-saving experimental drugs:
“Every life is precious and every person should have the freedom to protect their own,” said Banks. “In some of the darkest of times, when no other alternatives exist, giving these patients the right to try potentially life-saving drugs is one of the most compassionate things we can do as a nation. I am proud that Congress has advanced this pro-life legislation.” The bill – the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act – passed the House 250 to 169. It previously passed the Senate and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. Background: This legislation is named after Trickett Wendler, a wife and mother who suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and was unable to access experimental drugs that could have saved her life. The bill is also named after three other individuals – Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn and Matthew Bellina – who are still fighting for their lives today and could potentially benefit from the use of experimental drugs under this bill. McLinn is an eight-year-old boy in Indiana fighting muscular dystrophy. The bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow terminally ill patients access to certain investigational drugs that are not yet fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ### |