Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Georgia, a pharmacist, leading this discussion. It is so important the leadership that Representative Carter has taken in this role in addressing this. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition of H.R. 3. This would severely constrain biomedical innovation, limit the access to future cures, and ultimately harm so many patients across America. While all of us agree that we must act as a Congress to lower the cost of prescription medicine, this bill takes a fundamentally incorrect approach that would jeopardize Americans' access to new medicines and have a negative impact on patient outcomes. As a physician, as a legislator, I have witnessed new cures that offer hope to patients facing devastating diagnoses. As recently as 10 years ago, when I would see a patient presenting with metastatic melanoma, the prognosis often would be fatal. Now, thanks to the advent of new biologic therapies, patients diagnosed with widespread metastatic melanoma have a chance to live, a chance to embrace life. Let me be clear about this issue. Passing H.R. 3 would deprive patients and their loved ones of a chance for a cure. Fortunately, we have the alternative in H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, of which I am proud to be an original cosponsor. This bill is a package of more than 40 bipartisan provisions that would actually become law and have real impact on our patients, on our constituents.…”