Eleven Senate Democrats Warn Proposed Cuts Would Hurt Cures Act Implementation

In a letter sent to President Trump, 11 Senate Democrats urged the White House to scrap plans for fiscal 2018 budget cuts that would affect implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act.

Trump’s budget blueprint for the next fiscal year seeks deep cuts to federal agencies and would be a major detriment to implementing the Cures Act if enacted, according to Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), ranking member on the Senate health committee. But the blueprint actually proposed $1 billion in Cures Act funding government-wide.

And Congress also approved $40 million in Cures Act funding for the FDA through the current fiscal year, ending Sept. 30, in a separate, Dec. 12, 2016 continuing resolution.

The senators’ letter criticizes a memo from the Office of Management and Budget calling for federal agencies to submit reform plans and make short-term workforce cuts. These steps, according to the senators’ letter, are likely to disrupt Cures Act programs and slow congressional goals.