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United States · Law · S

S. 204 (115th)

Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

24 January 2017

Last action

30 May 2018 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 115-176.

Sponsors

Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI], Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Corker, Bob [R-TN], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN], Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ], Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK], Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT], Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY], Sen. Perdue, David [R-GA], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD], Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL], Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE], Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN], Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC], Sen. Strange, Luther [R-AL], Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]

Subjects

Healthcare

Source updated

5 December 2025

Healthcare

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act of 2017 This bill requires the federal government to allow unrestricted manufacturing, distribution, prescribing, and dispensing of experimental drugs, biological products, and medical devices that are: (1) intended to treat a patient who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and (2) authorized by state law. The federal government must allow unrestricted possession and use of such treatments by patients certified by a physician as having exhausted all other treatment options. A manufacturer, distributor, prescriber, dispenser, possessor, or user of such a treatment has no liability regarding the treatment. The outcome of manufacture, distribution, prescribing, dispensing, possession, or use of such a treatment may not be used by a federal agency to adversely impact review or approval of the treatment. The treatment must: (1) have successfully completed a phase 1 (initial, small scale) clinical trial; (2) remain under investigation in a clinical trial approved by the Food and Drug Administration; and (3) not be approved, licensed, or cleared for sale under the Federal Food, Drug, or Cosmetic Act or the Public Health Service Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 24 January 2017

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 24 January 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 3 August 2017

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4788-4789)

    Source: Floor

  4. 3 August 2017

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  5. 3 August 2017

    Discharge

    Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Discharge

  6. 3 August 2017

    Committee

    Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Committee

  7. 4 August 2017

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  8. 4 August 2017

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  9. 11 August 2017

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Source: Committee

  10. 21 May 2018

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 905 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5515, S. 204 and S. 2155. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 5515, S. 204 and S. 2155. The resolution provides for consideration of S. 2155 and S. 204 under a closed rule. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 5515 under a structured rule and makes an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-70 considered as adopted.

    Source: Floor

  11. 22 May 2018

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  12. 22 May 2018

    Vote

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 250 - 169 (Roll no. 214). (text: CR H4355-4356)

    Source: Floor

  13. 22 May 2018

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 250 - 169 (Roll no. 214).(text: CR H4355-4356)

    Source: Floor

  14. 22 May 2018

    Vote

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 187 - 231 (Roll no. 213).

    Source: Floor

  15. 22 May 2018

    Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

    Source: Floor

  16. 22 May 2018

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5515, S. 204 and S. 2155. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 5515, S. 204 and S. 2155. The resolution provides for consideration of S. 2155 and S. 204 under a closed rule. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 5515 under a structured rule and makes an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-70 considered as adopted.

    Source: Floor

  17. 22 May 2018

    Floor

    Ms. Schakowsky moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (CR H4363)

    Source: Floor

  18. 22 May 2018

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

    Source: Floor

  19. 22 May 2018

    Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 905. (consideration: CR H4355-4366)

    Source: Floor

  20. 24 May 2018

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  21. 24 May 2018

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  22. 30 May 2018

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 115-176.

    Source: President

  23. 30 May 2018

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  24. 30 May 2018

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

22 May 2018 · passed · On Passage · Passed · Official source

Yes 250 · No 169 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 8

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

22 May 2018 · failed · On Motion to Recommit with Instructions · Failed · Official source

Yes 187 · No 231 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 9

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

14 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 30 May 2018

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 30 May 2018

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 30 May 2018

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  • Passed House without amendment

    summary · EN · 22 May 2018

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  • Referred in House (text)

    Referred in House · EN · 4 August 2017

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  • Referred in House (PDF)

    Referred in House · EN · 4 August 2017

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 3 August 2017

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 3 August 2017

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 3 August 2017

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 24 January 2017

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 24 January 2017

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 24 January 2017

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Sponsors

Showing 48 of 49 sponsors and actors.

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