Johnson Statement on Expected Right to Try Vote in the House

WASHINGTON Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has this to say following the House Majority Leader’s announcement that a vote would occur next week on Senator Johnson’s right to try bill, S. 204, which passed the Senate unanimously last August. 

“For years, terminally ill patients and their families have been fighting for the right to hope and the freedom to try to save their own lives. I truly appreciate today’s announcement that House leadership plans to advance this effort by taking up my bill that passed the Senate unanimously. I specifically would like to thank Representatives Andy Biggs and Brian Fitzpatrick for their hard work and steadfast dedication to the right to try effort. Passing right to try will provide freedom to terminally ill patients and restore lost hope to them and their families.”

The Johnson-Donnelly bill that passed the Senate by unanimous consent on Aug. 3, 2017, can be found here.

Forty states already have passed right to try bills on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis.

Details on Johnson’s right to try work can be found below:

Feb. 18, 2016: Johnson’s letter to the FDA can be found here.

Feb. 25, 2016: Johnson held a hearing on connecting patients to new and potential life saving treatments.

Feb. 25, 2016: Johnson expressed his support for right to try.

March 16, 2016: Letter from Sens. Johnson, Carper, Donnelly and Coats to the FDA on can be found here.

April 26, 2016: Johnson’s statement on an FDA panel not approving eteplirsen can be found here.

May 10, 2016: Johnson introduced the Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act.

May 23, 2016: Johnson’s and Sen. Coats’ letter to the FDA can be found here.

June 16, 2016: Johnson advocates for right to try legislation at a Capitol Hill rally.

Sept. 16, 2016: Johnson’s and Sen. Alexander’s letter to the FDA can be found here.

Sept. 19, 2016: Johnson letter to FDA Commissioner Califf expressing disappointment at his refusal to testify at a right to try hearing.

Sept. 19, 2016Johnson applauds an FDA decision to approve eteplirsen to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Sept. 22, 2016: Johnson held a hearing on right to try.

Sept. 22, 2016: Johnson calls on fellow senators to pass bill to give terminally ill patients hope.

Sept. 26, 2016: Johnson calls on Senate to support right to try legislation.

Sept. 28, 2016: Johnson criticizes partisan blocking of bill for terminally ill patients.

Sept. 29, 2016: Johnson corrects the record in letter to Minority Leader Reid after right to try bill is blocked.

Oct. 24, 2016: After FDA’s silence, Johnson presses HHS for answers on right to try laws.

Nov. 16, 2016: 44th senator co-sponsors legislation giving terminally ill patients hope.

Jan. 24, 2017: Johnson re-introduces Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act with 39 original co-sponsors.

Oct. 2, 2017: Johnson and Donnely write letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Feb. 2, 2018: President Trump encourages Congress to pass right to try.

March 21, 2018: Johnson statement on House passage of House version of right to try.

March 23, 2018: Johnson calls on House to pass S. 204 after House right to try bill fails in the Senate.

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