Janice Schakowsky

The time I believe to act is now.

If PBMs were doing such a good job on my behalf negotiating for Part D, for example, why am I paying so much more than those other countries?

I feel that on this subcommittee where we have a very broad jurisdiction, we have been able to pass some important bills.

My bill will allow for greater transparency in drug pricing.

The legislation has a two-fold purpose. First, it will provide the Federal Trade Commission with authority to take action against a manufacturer engaged in product hopping.

It is clear from the testimony that we have heard today that Congress has an opportunity to act to combat the gaming tactics of Big Pharma.

Inaction on this issue is not an option. High healthcare and prescription drug costs affect all of us, regardless of background or party.

But competition is actually most central to innovation--and the opposite of what Big Pharma wants.

So we owe it to the American people, and I will be doing everything I can in my power to do so.

I am proud to preside over this hearing in the Consumer Protection Subcommittee because Congress must take direct action to protect American consumers from the deceptive commercial actions that the drug manufacturers take to gouge…

Instead of truly innovating, drug manufacturers are taking advantage of the anticompetitive environment we have created.

Drug manufacturers are gaming the system to make more money at consumers' expense, and that has to stop.

Product hopping or evergreening is the reformulation of a drug by a brand-name manufacturer to delay competition and protect protection for profit.

Competition is crucial to lowering prescription drug prices and improving America's access to lifesaving medication.

We can't leave any stone unturned in examining ways to address this issue.

But whatever the word or phrase, the bottom line is: drug manufacturers are gaming the system to make more money at consumers' expense.

Competition is actually more central to innovation, and the opposite of what Big Pharma wants.

It is my honor to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), who really brought this bill to the attention of our committee and subcommittee and garnered the support that is needed to make sure that…

The talk is not going to solve the problem. And any of the ideas that you have that we have heard today could be very useful.

My sense of innovation is when there is regulation, industry responds and finds a way to do it.

We are not making progress. We are actually going backwards.

We are really and truly running out of time.

I am fully supportive of extending Medicaid coverage for the post partum care up to--from 60 days to 1 year.

This disparity has to do with the appallingly way Black women are or aren't attended to or listened to.

It is just totally unacceptable.