U.S. Representatives Colin Allred and Sharice Davids Call for Immediate Action to Lower Drug Prices As Congress Closes In On Budget Agreement
U.S. Reps. Allred & Davids Discuss Urgent Need to Pass Medicare Negotiation in Looming Budget Agreement
Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Representatives Colin Allred (D-TX-32) and Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) joined Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to call for passing all of President Biden’s health care priorities in the Build Back Better budget package, including giving Medicare the power to negotiate for drug prices. The event follows a new op-ed from Reps. Allred and Davids, along with Cindy Axne (D-IA-03), Andy Kim (D-NJ-03), and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), outlining the strong case for allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.
President Biden and Democrats are leading the charge to include Medicare negotiation and other key health care priorities in the Build Back Better package, but the fight is not over: Big Pharma is ramping up its lobbying and scare tactics to protect its profits and lie to the American people. This event made clear that this is not the time for half measures; in order to meet the demands of voters across the political spectrum, Congress must give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices for all Americans.
“For too long hard-working families have been forced to pay higher and higher prices for the medicines they need,” said Representative Colin Allred (D-TX-32). “It’s why Congress must act and include strong reforms that allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices across the board. I know what it is like to campaign hard on this issue and win. The American people overwhelming support this, and I will keep fighting until we get this done.”
“We have an opportunity to make a difference in countless lives—and not only that, but including the ability for Medicare to negotiate prices in the reconciliation bill can help pay for other critical priorities for Kansas, like closing the Medicaid coverage gap and continuing subsidies for folks who buy their own insurance,” said Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS-03). “Of all the statistics we share about the impact of allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, here’s a big one: 72% of registered voters in my district worry that Congress won’t do enough to stand up to pharmaceutical companies and lower the prices of prescription drugs. We can’t let them be right.”
“This week, lawmakers have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform health care for millions of Americans,” said Protect Our Care Communications Director Anne Shoup. “Medicare negotiation is absolutely central to the Build Back Better package, and it will help American families who are sick and tired of paying three times more for their prescriptions than people in other countries. The proposal creates half a trillion dollars in savings that can be reinvested in expanding Medicare benefits, closing the coverage gap, and keeping premium costs down on the ACA marketplaces. Leaders like Representatives Allred and Davids know now is not the time to back down. Congress must stand up to Big Pharma once and for all and deliver lower drug prices now.”