LANGHORNE, PA – Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) and Andy Biggs (AZ-05) released the following statements Thursday regarding the Senate passage of the Fitzpatrick-Biggs ‘Right to Try’ legislation (S. 204):

“The Senate’s bipartisan passage of our ‘Right to Try’ legislation is a huge victory for hundreds of thousands of Americans and their families fighting terminal illnesses,” said Fitzpatrick. “Every American has the right to fight for their life and the life of their loved one. Today's action is a critical step toward ensuring that every American has the ‘Right to Try.’ My colleague, Andy Biggs, and I will work tirelessly to ensure that the House promptly takes up our companion legislation and that our ‘Right to Try’ mission finally becomes law."

“I applaud the Senate for passing Right to Try. Senator Ron Johnson has worked tirelessly to bring this legislation to the Senate floor, and his efforts have succeeded today," said Biggs. "I hope that the House will pass Right to Try when we return in September. This initiative gives hope to millions of terminally ill Americans who would otherwise have no recourse available to them in their last days. Congress should never stand between a patient and hope of recovery, and with an administration that is eager to sign this policy into law, the House should immediately affirm the Senate’s action. I stand ready to do my part to help send this bill to the President’s desk for his signature.”

Fitzpatrick introduced the Right to Try Act of 2017 in the House in February.  From ALS to Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, over one million Americans die from a terminal disease each year, and thousands more are diagnosed.  However, current ‘compassionate-use exceptions’ are only granted to about 1,000 patients annually.  Many patients simply run out of time before they can qualify or before the FDA’s approval process is complete.  National ‘Right to Try’ legislation would allow millions of Americans access to potentially life-saving treatment options.