Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., says he's confident in the Senate's support of legislation advocates hail as a huge boost to cancer research and drug development.
The Hoosier Democrat says he wants to add on to the so-called 21st Century Cures Act.
The 21st Century Cures Act would streamline Food and Drug Administration approvals and dedicate billions of dollars for the National Institutes of Health.
Donnelly says he wants to amend the bill to help one of Indiana's biggest sectors, the medical device industry, by helping speed along upgrades to medical devices.
"Instead of having an entire new FDA process that will take years, that we be able to coordinate with some third party, outside groups who will assure the quality, assure the safety. And these are just upgrades – longer lasting parts, longer lasting materials, those kinds of things," Donnelly says.
Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., who chairs the committee that developed the legislation, says Donnelly's proposal helps more than just manufacturers.
"If you're able to streamline that process, the ultimate cost to the patient is going to be less," he says.
Donnelly and Upton say they're hopeful a finalized version of the bill will be ready early next year.