Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today with the grave concerns over the continued reports of pharmacies closing in rural communities across my district. I was notified by a constituent recently that two independent pharmacies in Willcox and Benson will soon close, citing the constrictive practices of pharmacy benefit managers. Local independent pharmacies are critical to rural communities as they are often the only medical provider for hundreds of miles, especially in light of the vast consolidation of large pharmacies buying up smaller ones. We must stand for independent practices that serve our local communities. As we speak, this becomes a rural access health crisis, forcing residents of those communities to travel long distances to receive the medication and medical services that they need. This not only places an undue burden on those with limited resources and mobility, but it also increases their risk of delayed treatments and worsened health outcomes, leaving rural communities vulnerable and underserved. It is critical that we address this growing problem now and support our rural pharmacies to ensure that all individuals, regardless of where they live, have access to the healthcare that they deserve. ____________________”