Political Quotes

“Mr. President, yesterday the Senate Judiciary Committee held a very important hearing on how we can bring down prescription drug prices for American families without sacrificing the innovation that has made our country a world leader in new drug development. That is quite a challenging balance to strike. As I travel my State, I have heard from my constituents about their increasing inability to get their hands on the medications they need at a price they can afford--not because no treatment exists, not because they don't have insurance, and not even because it is a pricey, brandnew drug. Patients can't afford their prescriptions because the prices are going up at an alarming rate, with little evidence or justification to back some of the price hikes. I heard from one Texas pharmacist who was shocked by the dramatic price increase of drugs that had been available for years. She told me about one popular antibiotic that once cost $8 for 1,000 tabs. She said now it costs more than $1,200 for the same amount--$8 to $1,200. What is the justification for that? Well, we are left to wonder and speculate, and that is part of the reason for the investigation being undertaken now by the Finance Committee and other Senate committees. These costs have been so overwhelming that some of my constituents will cross the border to go to Mexico to try to buy prescription drugs there. A man from Rockport, TX, told me one of his prescriptions cost about $1,000 each month in the United States.…”