The American People Deserve for This Congress to Go to Work

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to Speaker Pelosi's radical partisan prescription drug pricing plan.

Let's not forget the last time that Speaker Pelosi brought healthcare legislation it was rushed through this House, and it doubled our premiums and our deductibles skyrocketed.

There is no guarantee that H.R. 3 would lower the prices of drugs, but rather, it could mandate a one-size-fits-all government takeover of healthcare. It could pose a grave threat to innovation, research and development, and ultimately patient access to life-changing prescriptions.

The bill could have far-reaching economic consequences that would negatively affect jobs, the economy, and trade. The pharmaceutical industry employs over 800,000 workers and supports an estimated four million jobs in this country. I know this firsthand. Right in my district healthcare researchers are transforming patient care and creating local jobs at the same time.

This week the House Committee on Education and Labor marked up this legislation, and, unfortunately, my amendment was not adopted. My amendment would have prevented innovation and American manufacturing from moving out of the United States to China.

The American people deserve for this Congress to go to work and pass legislation that is bipartisan and has a chance to become law to lower drug prices.

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