Brad Wenstrup: “26 years ago, my sister had two forms of leukemia that most people die from immediately; but because of earlier clinical…”

“26 years ago, my sister had two forms of leukemia that most people die from immediately; but because of earlier clinical trials and innovative treatments, there was a way to get some leukemia patients into remission. Then we developed bone marrow transplants, and I matched her for that. Five years later, they called her a cure. Today, my sister is alive, working, raising a family, and we have treatments for leukemia that lead to a cure without even needing bone marrow transplants. These treatments are just steps in finding cures; and, as we work to lower prescription drug prices, I want to make sure that we are looking at it from all angles. We need to be aware of the impacts on the quality of and access to care when considering effective solutions to lower drug prices. H.R. 3 threatens and, actually, puts a knife in the heart of the pillars of research and development that have helped make America the leader in health innovation. Relying on foreign countries to set our prices is misguided. I don't want to see the U.S. be controlled or manipulated by an arrangement some other cabal of countries makes to affect our markets and our patients. Other countries do not always share the same priorities we do on access to quality care and saving lives. What do we sacrifice with this bill? The best care? Cutting-edge research? A lifesaving drug? Unfortunately, the approach before us today is a dangerous one.…”