Tina Smith: “I rise today to join Senator Klobuchar and my colleagues on behalf of all Minnesotans and Americans who struggle to…”

“I rise today to join Senator Klobuchar and my colleagues on behalf of all Minnesotans and Americans who struggle to afford their prescription drugs. The increasing price of prescription drugs is a top concern for Americans and Minnesotans. Every day, companies are launching new treatments at astronomical prices, and they are spiking the price of older drugs, like insulin. Americans are taking notice of this greedy behavior that puts patients last. The No. 1 issue I hear about from Minnesotans is the cost of healthcare and specifically the cost of prescription drugs. Every day, Minnesotans inspire me to fight to lower the price of prescription drugs, Minnesotans like Rachael Malmberg, a military veteran with cancer. Before Rachel battled cancer, she battled teams on the ice, playing hockey for the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Olympic Team. Rachael's daily medicine is stabilizing her cancer, but it comes at a great cost. Even with health insurance, she still pays $9,000 a month. For Rachael, affording her prescription drugs is a matter of life or death. I have also talked with Minnesotans like Nikki Foster, a mom living with multiple sclerosis in Brooklyn Park, MN. Nikki received her MS diagnosis only 3 months after running her first half-marathon. The diagnosis was frightening, and Nikki wondered if she would ever be able to run again. I am happy to say that 4 years later, Nikki is walking and running just fine.…”