Goodlatte: Americans deserve the chance to fight for their lives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 22nd,  the U.S. House of Representatives approved S. 204, the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017. Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) released the following statement after voting in support of S. 204:

“One more chance – that’s what this bill gives terminally-ill patients. For terminally-ill patients who are not accepted into a clinical trial or granted an exemption to use a new treatment, it can be devastating to know that potentially life-saving drugs and therapies exist, but are not available to you. We can restore hope to these patients by enacting fair and compassionate Right to Try legislation, which grants access to medications that have passed basic safety testing by the Food and Drug Administration but are not yet obtainable by the general public. We cannot let a lengthy approval process be the reason someone in dire need cannot access an otherwise safe treatment. The House previously passed a similar version of this legislation, and I’m pleased that Right to Try is finally heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Americans and their loved ones deserve the chance to fight for their lives.”

Background: On March 21, 2018, the House of Representatives passed, with Congressman Goodlatte’s support, H.R. 5247, the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018 by a bipartisan vote of 267 – 149.