The Republican Party promised that as soon as they were elected they would repeal and replace Obamacare. Six months later -- after multiple failed attempts -- there is only a glimmer of hope that our nation’s legislatures will still work to find better healthcare solutions for Americans. But just last week, in a rare bipartisan fashion, Senate Democrats and Republicans came together to pass the FDA Reauthorization Act. The bill, which passed without amendments from the House version passed in June, went straight to President Trump’s desk and is expected to be signed shortly. The FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 gives pharmaceutical companies a better opportunity to quickly develop cures for diseases and illnesses facing struggling Americans. US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Representative Greg Walden (R), Republican of Washington... [+] and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman, alongside US Vice President Mike Pence (L), as he hugs Representative Virginia Foxx (2nd L), Republican of North Carolina and House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman, as they meet with House committee chairman about healthcare reform in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, March 10, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) Senate Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Greg Walden, (R-OR); ranking member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ); Health Subcommittee chairman Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX); and Health Subcommittee ranking member Gene Green (D-TX) released a statement saying that “this bill is a win for patients and the millions of Americans working to develop our next generation of cures and therapies.” The reauthorization includes provisions that will better incorporate real world evidence in the development of new remedies and provide the FDA with the tools it needs to bring forth innovation as fast as possible. This helps to deliver medicine to patients faster and gets the FDA the resources it needs to best serve Americans. The widespread support that this legislation has received is an indication to members of Congress, President Trump, and the Republican Party of how Washington should approach health care reform. Congress’s inability to develop a substantial and comprehensive health care reform bill stems directly from Republicans and Democrats unwillingness to work together to craft a bill that will pass. For big ticket issues that President Trump promised to tackle during the campaign-- tax reform, health care, immigration, jobs -- both parties are going to need to find common ground. Substantial change is only possible when both parties work together. There’s good evidence of this phenomenon. Take Medicare Part D, for example, which passed with broad bipartisanship support. Both parties worked together, compromised, and now both are happy with the result. In a health care system that prides itself on options, creating competition between companies and consumers brings the best possible healthcare. Removal of the federal government from this process ensures that consumers can get what they want without being forced to follow unnecessary guidelines. Obamacare is failing. That’s a fact the Democrats need to accept. But we cannot “let it fail” as President Trump has threatened to do. Republicans and Democrats need to continue to explore bipartisan solutions to provide the best care for Americans. (DISCLOSURE: From August 2015 to October 2017, I served on the board of the Rosenthal Center for Addiction Studies, and conducted marketing research for them. The opinions in this article are my own.)
The democratic Party promised that as soon as they were elected they would resign and replace them . six months later -- after multiple failed campaigns -- there is only a glimmer of hope that our nation ’s legislatures will still work to find better healthcare solutions for Americans .