Peter Welch

I would just urge us to try to look for some way where we address this patient choice issue, because I know a lot of my colleagues have that concern. I have that concern.

The fact is that there is going to be a lot of resistance if there is an apprehension that a patient can't get the medication he or she needs.

We have worked in a bipartisan manner on lowering drug costs over the last several years.

One consistent concern I hear about from my constituents in Oregon, and I have done 20 town halls so far this year, is the high cost of prescription drugs.

I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, or our witness, on whether the current structure of how Part B drugs are reimbursed--can and should be modified to foster competition and to lower prices.

Due to a family emergency, I was unable to vote on Roll Call 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, and 167. I would include in the Record how I would have voted on each had I been present. rollcall 157: ``Aye'', rollcall 158…

If there is a withdrawal, presumably local actors would have to take over lots of functions.

We can't wash our hands of the taxpayers' dollars just because we give it to the World Bank.

It's a practical challenge. That's really what that says.

It's delightful to have you serving as our chair with your long experience on this committee.

Outside interference goes to the heart of our democracy. The most important challenge for our country is that we, the citizens of this country, make the decision on who is our President, who are our Senators, and who are our…

I just want to mention again that the BLOCKING Act is a perfect example of us working in a bipartisan fashion.

The various proposals that are under consideration today would not, in your view, adversely affect innovation?

If you have specific suggestions about how any of these bills can be improved, I think that would be of great interest to our committee because we want to get this right.

I don't like litigation, all right? It just--it is the last resort.

So if you have specific suggestions about how any of these bills can be improved, I think that would be of great interest to our committee because we want to get this right.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. It is kind of exciting to be here because we are actually on the threshold of doing something, and that is something that eludes us in Congress, so it is nice to show up for work today.

We have got an opportunity, bipartisan, to finally tackle the rip-off pricing in the pharma system.

Thank you, first of all, Madam Chair, for your leadership on this incredible issue of drug pricing.

How does it serve the public for the government agencies to subsidize these data bases?

It sounds like a rip-off, actually.

The FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 requires agencies to establish procedures for identifying records of general interest that are appropriate for public disclosure.

Never mind that Title X already cannot fund any abortion. But that means doctors won't be able to provide the best medical advice to their patients.

This rule would directly hurt four Title-X-funded health centers in my district and thousands of my constituents who are served by them.

Cutting this coverage is unacceptable, and I will stand up for my constituents and the millions of Americans across the country that rely on these programs.