Political Quotes

“Mr. President, this body has a long record of coming together to improve healthcare for Americans. In 2003, we worked in a bipartisan manner to establish the Medicare Part D benefit. More recently, I have worked with my Finance Committee colleagues on oversight investigations to hold: EpiPen manufacturers accountable who were misusing taxpayer dollars, insulin manufacturers and PBMs accountable who were unfairly increasing the list price of insulin, and our organ donation system accountable and investigate its troubling underperformance. We can work together and meaningfully improve healthcare. This Congress, I have worked with my Democrat colleagues to introduce eight bills to lower drug costs. In the past year alone, we have passed five of my bills out of committee on a bipartisan basis. They will lower drug prices and create more competition while holding Big Pharma and PBMs accountable. Unfortunately, the leader hasn't brought any of these bills up for a vote, even though they would easily pass the Senate. But this hasn't stopped me from trying to find other ways to help bring down the cost of medications. In 2019, as Finance Committee chairman, I began a bipartisan committee process with the ranking member from Oregon to lower the cost of prescription drugs. The bill is called the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act. We held three committee hearings to learn from policymakers and advocates while also holding Big Pharma and PBMs accountable.…”