Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. I rise today to celebrate National Rural Health Month and bring attention to rural healthcare challenges. In the communities that I am so proud to represent in central and southern Illinois, independent pharmacies are a lifeline. However, for too long, predatory drug middlemen, called PBMs, have squeezed independent pharmacies out of business through their unfair, anticompetitive practices. I recently hosted a roundtable, where I heard from several independent pharmacists throughout my district, including Michelle Dyer, the owner of Michelle's Pharmacy in Carlinville, Illinois. In 2022, as PBM s consolidated, she was forced to close multiple locations of her business, leaving three rural towns in Macoupin County without access to a reliable pharmacy. Our conversation made clear that we must take action to rein in PBMs, who have gone unchecked for far too long. We must pass the Pharmacists Fight Back Act to provide transparency, accountability, and guardrails. We need to protect independent pharmacists and support the health of our rural communities.”