Archive: News

Tom Reed discussed how energy produced in the United States, particularly as a result of fracking, is driving the costs of electric/gas bills and gasoline down for families across Western New York.

"Oil and natural gas developed in the United States is keeping oil prices around the world low, which is driving down the price of gas here at home," said Reed.  "Cheaper gas is also reducing the prices of food and electric/gas bills, which help families, as these are the largest expenses in a household," Reed continued.

A recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlighted the positive impact that U.S. shale production on the wallets of the American consumer.  The report indicates that hydraulic fracturing is directly responsible for a drastic reduction in natural gas imports, as well as, increased domestic oil production, which is reducing the price of gasoline, despite political unrest in the Middle East.

"For the sake of our economy, our kids and the future of the United States, we must develop a strategy to end our dependence on Middle Eastern Crude oil," said Reed. "We cannot continue to rely on oil to meet all of our country's needs."

Reed also discussed a forthcoming proposal he is developing which will create energy independence in the United States. His "all-of-the-above" approach will encourage the development of domestic resources, including both renewable and traditional energy sources, such as solar, wind, oil and natural gas. The proposal is also expected to contain improvements to work force training, energy efficiency standards and infrastructure.

"It's only fair that we use the resources that we have here at home first and not let an extreme liberal-progressive agenda send energy cost through the roof, and stifle our communities," Reed continued.

Reed also supported the bi-partisan 21st Century CURES Act this week.

"This is a patient-centered bill designed to enhance the abilities of the medical community to fight diseases, and get those who are ill the best possible care," said Reed. "America has led the way in medical innovation for decades, and it's time to ensure that our medical researchers have access to resources to develop cures for Alzheimer's, cancers and other diseases that have so often plagued our loved ones."

CURES modernizes much of the healthcare oversight systems in the United States, enhances medical research and streamlines efforts to develop cures for the 10,000 known diseases without standard treatment options.

According to Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it now takes "around 14 years and $2 billion or more" to develop a new drug and "more than 95 percent of [such] drugs fail during development." Patients across the country do not have 14 years to wait.

"The 21st Century Cures Act will spur the innovations that will turn blood cancer patients into survivors. More than 88,000 New Yorkers are living with a blood cancer diagnosis today, and those patients need Congress to pass the 21st Century Cures Act to accelerate their access to the next generation of therapies and cures," said Nancy Hails, Executive Director of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Western & Central NY Chapter. The bill also personalizes medical research by encouraging collaboration between patients, physicians, researchers and regulators.  Personalized medicine allows patients to be treated based on their unique genetic characteristics.

"Some of these laws haven't been changed since the human genome was mapped in 2001," Reed continued.  "With such dramatic advances in medical technology is only fair that our laws keep pace; so many will be helped by these collaborative efforts." Alzheimer's, the most expensive disease in the nation, is addressed in the 21st Century Cures Act which provides much needed resources to the National Institutes of Health, ensuring that innovative research can be funded so more can be learned about Alzheimer's disease," said Kelly Harris, Executive Director of Alzheimer's Association, Rochester & the Finger Lakes Chapter. "The bill also allows for more patient involvement in the drug discovery process which is important with a complicated disease like Alzheimer's that impacts not just the individual with the disease, but also their care partner."

The cost-effective legislation will not only enhance resources for the medical community, but will actually save taxpayers roughly $500 million by focusing on reducing fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare program.

The legislation now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

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