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H.R. 878 115th Congress House

Right to Try Act of 2017

Official title: To authorize the use of unapproved medical products by patients diagnosed with a terminal illness in accordance with State law, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 6, 2017 Introduced by: Andy Biggs Republican · Arizona See on congress.gov
Health Civil actions and liabilityDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationDrug therapyHealth technology, devices, supplies
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Licensing and registrationsLong-term, rehabilitative, and terminal carePrescription drugsProduct safety and quality
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 2, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Mar 2, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Feb 10, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 6, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 6, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 2, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 2368 Right to Try Act
  • S 204 Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 61
All 61 Democratic 2 Republican 30
CULBERSON, JOHN
· May 21, 2018
Black, Diane
· Mar 5, 2018
Pearce, Stevan
· Feb 27, 2018
 R
Buchanan, Vern
Florida · Feb 23, 2018
 R
Comer, James
Kentucky · Feb 23, 2018
 R
Bost, Mike
Illinois · Feb 16, 2018
Handel, Karen
· Feb 16, 2018
Byrne, Bradley
· Feb 15, 2018
Buck, Ken
· Feb 14, 2018
Blum, Rod
· Feb 7, 2018
 R
Johnson, Mike
Louisiana · Feb 7, 2018
 R
Jordan, Jim
Ohio · Feb 7, 2018
 R
Perry, Scott
Pennsylvania · Feb 7, 2018
Ratcliffe, John
· Feb 7, 2018
Sanford, Mark
· Feb 7, 2018
 R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Feb 6, 2018
Gallagher, Mike
· Feb 6, 2018
 R
Higgins, Clay
Louisiana · Feb 6, 2018
 R
Weber, Randy K. Sr.
Texas · Feb 6, 2018
Barletta, Lou
· Feb 2, 2018
 R
Budd, Ted
North Carolina · Feb 2, 2018
Garrett, Thomas
· Feb 2, 2018
Hice, Jody
· Feb 2, 2018
 R
Hill, J. French
Arkansas · Feb 2, 2018
Labrador, Raul
· Feb 2, 2018
 R
Tenney, Claudia
New York · Feb 2, 2018
 R
Thompson, Glenn
Pennsylvania · Feb 2, 2018
 R
Walberg, Tim
Michigan · Feb 2, 2018
 R
Marshall, Roger
Kansas · Jan 16, 2018
 R
Allen, Rick W.
Georgia · Jan 12, 2018
 R
Harris, Andy
Maryland · Jan 12, 2018
 R
Norman, Ralph
South Carolina · Jan 12, 2018
Rothfus, Keith
· Jan 12, 2018
Yoder, Kevin
· Jan 12, 2018
 R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · Oct 12, 2017
Comstock, Barbara
· Aug 8, 2017
Faso, John
· May 16, 2017
 D
Correa, J. Luis
California · Mar 13, 2017
 R
Arrington, Jodey C.
Texas · Mar 7, 2017
Graves, Tom
· Feb 21, 2017
Abraham, Ralph
· Feb 16, 2017
 R
Bacon, Don
Nebraska · Feb 14, 2017
 R
Griffith, H. Morgan
Virginia · Feb 14, 2017
Hensarling, Jeb
· Feb 14, 2017
 R
Banks, Jim
Indiana · Feb 6, 2017
 R
Barr, Andy
Kentucky · Feb 6, 2017
Brat, Dave
· Feb 6, 2017
Bridenstine, Jim
· Feb 6, 2017
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Feb 6, 2017
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Feb 6, 2017
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 878: Right to Try Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-878/
MLA
"H.R. 878: Right to Try Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-878/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 878, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-878/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 878: Right to Try Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-878/)
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