On the recordSeptember 13, 2016
Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Scott. He has highlighted a lot of things, and I think it is something that just matters. Sometimes we go through a lot of the big pictures up here, and we see a lot of issues, but this is one that matters to hometown. This is Main Street USA. This is something that goes on. Especially for districts like mine and for many others in rural communities, the pharmacy, especially the independent community pharmacies, are the lifeblood in these communities I have said this before, and I have had this asked of me because we have been doing this a while. Let's make it very clear. Pharmacists, I love. I don't care who they work for. Pharmacists are great folks, whether they work in a big-box store or they work for a major chain or they are independent and own their own business. Pharmacists want to help people. That is why they went into it to start with. I think what we are fighting here is a system. I have talked to many pharmacy students who are now saying they are not sure they want to go into this or they are very concerned about their futures because they are looking at the abusive policies of PBMs, and they are saying: I don't want to follow in my mom or dad's footsteps; I don't want to follow and open up a storefront and hire people because I can't make it this way. And they end up being forced in. I want to talk a little bit--we have been vague about this, but I am not going to be vague here for the next little bit.…





