Hudson Urges Bipartisanship to Lower Drug Prices
December 12, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2019
Hudson Urges Bipartisanship to Lower Drug Prices
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after voting against Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s partisan drug pricing plan, which will stifle innovation and lead to fewer cures for Americans desperately in need:
“The American people want us to work together in a bipartisan way to bring down the prices of drugs without crushing innovation and taking away lifesaving cures,” said Rep. Hudson. “It’s time for Washington Democrats to put the partisanship aside and pass H.R. 19.”
On Monday, Rep. Hudson joined his colleagues to introduce H.R. 19,the Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2019. This legislation uses bipartisan reforms to lower out of pocket spending, protect access to new medicines and cures, strengthen transparency, and champion competition. Every single provision is bipartisan.
- 36 provisions from bills passed out of either Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees with unanimous bipartisan support. All but one is sponsored by a Democrat.
- 17 provisions from bills passed out of the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
- 8 provisions from bills passed out of 3 different Senate committees with bipartisan support.
- 21 of these provisions come from S. 2543, the bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.
Speaker Pelosi’s partisan drug pricing scheme is not only bad policy, it’s never going to become law.
Last night, Rep. Hudson spoke on the House floor and called on his colleagues to support H.R. 19. To watch the video, click here. The transcript is below.
“Republicans and Democrats agree: Americans pay too much for prescription drugs.
We agree we need to do something about it.
We agree our friends and loved ones need access to life-saving cures and treatments.
And Americans want us to work together in a bipartisan way to get things done.
Yet, today we’re considering Speaker Pelosi’s partisan Bill. This is an exercise in futility—not only will it stop an estimated 100 new lifesaving drugs. It has no chance of being signed into law.
I care about the millions of Americans, like my late grandmother, living with Alzheimer’s, and the thousands of Americans diagnosed with cancer every single day, and the children who face life-altering diagnoses like spinal muscular atrophy, epilepsy or cystic fibrosis. I want them to have hope. And I want them to have access to the very best medicine.
That’s why we introduced H.R. 19, bipartisan legislation that could be signed into law by President Trump this year. So let’s stop the partisan theatrics and get serious about the problem that people are begging us to fix.”
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Issues:Health Care