We have to find ways to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and the National Academies recommends that the Federal Government negotiate prices directly with drug companies. I agree.

It is legal, but if drug companies have influence over which drugs these charities help patients buy, then under current law, it would be illegal.

I support strengthening those disclosure rules. I have written legislative language to do it.

Frankly, it didn't even come close, and that's why today we're reintroducing the National Biomedical Research Act, which provides $50 billion in new funding for the NIH and for the FDA.

I am worried that splitting oversight of R&D from acquisition is going to make this problem even worse.

Are you still committed to prioritizing basic and applied research? Will this commitment be reflected in the fiscal year 2019 budget?

We have to get better at this. Anything that has a name of the 'Valley of Death' is not good, in terms of acquisition of new, cutting-edge technology.

I led Democrats on this Committee in calling for an extra $50 billion for the NIH and the FDA.

Cures also fell short in a really big way, and that's on funding.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have been sitting on the floor for a while, listening to other Senators tell amazing stories about young people who came to this country as children and how they have thrived, how they have become woven into a…

a U.S. Senator from the State of Massachusetts

I think that would be bad for students overall and with Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, I think it would be even worse.