The House sent “right to try” legislation on experimental drugs to President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE’s desk Tuesday — a measure Trump, Vice President Pence and groups backed by mega-donors Charles and David Koch have repeatedly urged Congress to pass.

The House passed the bill largely along party lines by a 250-169 vote.

Twenty-two Democrats broke ranks to join Republicans in supporting the bill which lets patients bypass the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when they request access to drugs the agency hasn’t yet approved.

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Passage of the bill is a victory for Trump, who has personally called on lawmakers to send the measure to his desk, including an unexpected endorsement in his State of the Union speech.

Right to try has drawn backlash from House Democrats and patient safety organizations, who worry sidelining the FDA puts patients in danger.

More than 100 advocacy groups — such as the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Friends of Cancer Research — sent a letter Monday to House Republican and Democratic leadership expressing their “strong opposition” to the bill. Guidance from House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton HoyerOn The Money: Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of emergency loans | House seeks to salvage vote on spending bill | Economists tell lawmakers: Kill the virus to heal the economy House moves toward spending vote after bipartisan talks House Democrats mull delay on spending bill vote MORE (D-Md.) on the day’s schedule urged Democrats to vote against the legislation.

“FDA oversight of access to experimental treatments exists for a reason — it protects patients from potential snake oil salesmen or from experimental treatments that might do more harm than good,” Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. Frank Joseph PallonePharma execs say FDA will not lower standards for coronavirus vaccine Dem chairmen urge CMS to prevent nursing homes from seizing stimulus payments Federal watchdog finds cybersecurity vulnerabilities in FCC systems MORE (D-N.J.), the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s ranking member, said Tuesday during debate on the bill.

“By removing FDA oversight, you are counting on physicians and manufacturers to serve as the gatekeeper and protector of patients,” he said. “I simply don’t buy that that’s going to work.”

Opponents argue it gives “false hope” to patients since drugmakers aren’t required to give unapproved medicines to patients who ask for them. They also contend that the FDA already has a program that helps patients access investigational drugs and approves 99 percent of those requests.

But proponents counter that program is onerous. They argue that very sick patients should have every tool at their disposal to try to extend their lives.

“It’s about patients. It’s about having more time with their loved ones,” Rep. Michael Burgess Michael Clifton BurgessIgnore the misinformation: The FDA will ensure the safety of any COVID-19 vaccine House goes postal for one day GOP lawmaker calls asymptomatic testing crucial after CDC revises guidance MORE (R-Texas), the House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee chairman, said during the debate.

Last week, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy's Democratic challenger to launch first TV ad highlighting Air Force service as single mother Trump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill MORE (R-Calif.) announced the House would take up the Senate’s bill. Over the next few days, bipartisan, bicameral talks ensued in an attempt to make changes to the bill, but, according to a Senate Democratic aide, they failed to produce anything.

“The Senate passed a bill, so now it’s incumbent upon the House to act,” the aide wrote Monday in an email.

The legislation has had a winding path to passage.

In August, the Senate passed a right to try bill by unanimous consent. Sens. Ron Johnson Ronald (Ron) Harold Johnson CIA found Putin 'probably directing' campaign against Biden: report This week: Supreme Court fight over Ginsburg's seat upends Congress's agenda GOP set to release controversial Biden report MORE (R-Wis.) and Joe Donnelly Joseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyTrump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day MORE (D-Ind.) championed the measure.

The bill remained largely stagnant in the House but gained new life when Trump urged Congress to pass right to try in his State of the Union speech in late January.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden Gregory (Greg) Paul WaldenTrump order on drug prices faces long road to finish line Ignore the misinformation: The FDA will ensure the safety of any COVID-19 vaccine Hillicon Valley: Trump backs potential Microsoft, TikTok deal, sets September deadline | House Republicans request classified TikTok briefing | Facebook labels manipulated Pelosi video MORE (R-Ore.) expressed concerns with the bill and hammered out a different version in the House. It further defined who would be allowed to get the experimental drugs, making the criteria more restrictive, while also including some additional patient protections.

In late March, the House passed its bill largely along party lines, in a 267-149 vote.

But it appeared stalled in the Senate.

Since the opposition from House Democrats, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerSenate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' Jacobin editor: Primarying Schumer would force him to fight Trump's SCOTUS nominee MORE (D-N.Y.) has brought up concerns about taking the FDA out of the process. He blocked a unanimous consent request to take up the House bill.

Though the Senate’s bill — and not Walden’s — will be sent to President Trump’s desk, he told reporters Monday that he had talked to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb and that Gottlieb “believes he can provide the safety through regulation that might otherwise be missing” in the Senate bill, Walden said.

Earlier in the day, Gottlieb tweeted on the issue saying he was “ready to implement it in a way that achieves Congress' intent to promote access and protect patients.”

When the House passes #RightToTry legislation I stand ready to implement it in a way that achieves Congress’ intent to promote access and protect patients; and build on #FDA’s longstanding commitment to these important goals #RTT — Scott Gottlieb, M.D. (@SGottliebFDA) May 22, 2018

This year, groups backed by Charles and David Koch have been exerting pressure on Congress to act on the legislation.

As recently as late last month, Americans for Prosperity launched a six-figure national television and targeted digital ad campaign calling on Congress to pass right to try. The group announced this week it would key vote the measure, meaning they’ll use this vote for their congressional scorecard of members votes.

And Trump has continued to push for passage.

In the Rose Garden earlier this month, Trump was readying to unveil his drug pricing blueprint. But before turning to that plan, he said, “And right to try is happening, right? … Right to try. So important.”