Texas reps. participate in round table concerning 21st Century Act

UT Southwestern Medical Center President Daniel K. Podolsky and faculty members recently joined U.S. Reps. Michael C. Burgess (R-TX) and Joe Barton (R-TX) in a roundtable discussion on the 21st Century Cures Act.

The 21st Century Cures Act is bipartisan legislation that supports biomedical research currently being considered by the U.S. Senate.

"It is crucial that America remains at the front lines of biomedical research and care; these investments lead to exponential advances in medicine," Burgess said. "Today's event at UT Southwestern offered an exceptional look into the high caliber of people and the effort involved in finding new cures. We cannot allow our lofty, yet achievable goals, to be lost amid the political discourse. What if that cure is within our grasp, sitting in a test tube in one of these labs, just waiting for us to finish our analysis?"

UT Southwestern faculty joined residents and students at the event, which included a tour of the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine and a technology demonstration at UT Southwestern's William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.

"We deeply appreciate Dr. Burgess' and Rep. Barton's leadership in advancing the important role of academic medical centers and other institutions in finding better therapies and new cures," Podolsky said.

Burgess has represented Texas's 26th District in the House of Representatives since 2003. Born in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1950. Burgess was educated at University of North Texas and married to Laura Burgess. He serves on the following committees: Committee on Energy and Commerce, Committee on Rules, Helsinki Commission, Republican Study Committee and House Republican Policy Committee.