Political Quotes

“Drug prices in the United States have been rising at rates significantly faster than anywhere else in the world for the past 25 years, according to the Commonwealth Fund. Investments by the Federal Government and research form the foundation of advances in new treatments and cures. The Federal Government does all the costly basic research; the pharmaceutical industry does all the profitable distribution and marketing. Now, the Federal Government should use its considerable leverage to negotiate fair drug prices so the American people can truly benefit from their taxpayer investments. I am pleased to see the House moving forward this week with H.R. 3 that will do just that. We must create leverage whenever we can. Despite promises from President Trump last year that drugmakers would announce massive voluntary price decreases on their products, patients continue to face enormous year-over-year drug price increases on the drugs they need. In the first half of 2018, for every drug that saw a price decrease, 96 drugs saw a price increase. We also know that drug price hikes are almost never connected to any evidence of innovation and improved benefit. Why do drug companies raise the price of existing drugs? Because they can. It is imperative that we protect patients from unaffordable drug prices and unjustified price increases on those drugs. ____________________”