Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act.

I would like to thank Chairmen Neal, Pallone, and Scott for their tireless efforts to get this legislation passed.

Prescriptions are not recommendations, Doctors have written them for a reason. Patients, our constituents, our friends, our family members, need these medications. They cannot afford to skip their medications.

However, I have heard so many heartbreaking stories from individuals in my district. Alice in Whittier has to rely on her doctors for insulin samples because she cannot afford insulin. Adrian in Norwalk is choosing to pay his bills rather than his eight different medications. David in La Mirada is considering cutting his dosage because he cannot afford to refill his full dosage as often as he should. They, and so many others, are just making do. Frankly, that's not good enough for me.

With H.R. 3, we are giving power back to the people in my district and to millions of Americans. The savings from this bill will also be given back to the public with reinvestments in innovation and the search for new cures and treatments.

I look forward to this bill's passage today. It is time to act and lower the cost of prescription drugs now.

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