David Loebsack: “We have been able to find a consensus on this, too, among this bipartisan group of folks. As my good friend said…”

“We have been able to find a consensus on this, too, among this bipartisan group of folks. As my good friend said: Pharmacists across the country serve as the first line, really, of healthcare services for many patients, especially in small towns in Iowa and around the country. People count on pharmacists' training and expertise to stay healthy and informed and maybe, most importantly, to stay out of urgent care centers and hospitals, something we all want to see happen. I am proud to stand here today with my colleagues to recognize the quality, affordable, and personal care that pharmacists provide every day. Community pharmacists and their pharmacies are also a great source of economic growth in rural communities, like those in my district in Iowa. I have 24 counties. It is a big area. And when a pharmacy is under pressure economically, the community knows it and hears about it. And if they have to close, the community suffers as a result. As a member of the Small Business Caucus, I recognize how challenging it can be for some small pharmacists to compete with bigger companies. I appreciate their hard work to serve our communities every day. Like most small-business owners, community pharmacists face many challenges to compete and negotiate on a day-to-day basis with large entities in their business transactions.…”