Rep. Zeldin Opposes House Dems Playing Partisan Politics with Prescription Drug Prices

Statement

Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) issued the following statement after House Democrats voted down the Lower Costs, More Cures Act (H.R. 19) and instead passed H.R. 3 nearly entirely down party lines:

"Yesterday was another setback for everyday Americans struggling to pay for lifesaving prescription drugs. The American people demand bipartisan, commonsense action to lower the cost of prescription drugs; not another Democratic messaging bill that will never actually become law. I was proud to support legislation that was widely bipartisan and comprehensive, full of real solutions rather than partisan politics, but apparently House Democrats didn't feel the same. Instead, they voted down this bipartisan bill to take up legislation that passed nearly entirely down party lines, one that would result in fewer cures and stifle medical innovation. When Long Islanders can't afford to buy insulin and other life saving medication, they definitely can't afford these partisan games in Washington."

H.R. 3:

-Stifles medical innovation and development, creating anywhere from 15 to 100 fewer cures according to the Congressional Budget Office and Council of Economic Advisers caused by government price setting mandated under H.R. 3;

-Scraps the bipartisan consensus on drugs for seniors in Medicare Part D;

-Mandates price setting instead of price negotiation.

Congressman Zeldin supports the Lower Costs, More Cures Act (H.R. 19), which:

-Lowers the cost of prescription drugs by promoting more low-cost options for patients and curbing the gaming of the system by drug companies, all while encouraging innovation of groundbreaking new cures;

-For the first time ever, places a cap on seniors' out-of-pocket drug costs and allows seniors to manage their annual out-of-pocket spending;

-Makes insulin more affordable;

-Increases transparency and removes uncertainty at the pharmacy counter;

-Cuts the cost of drug administration, including cancer treatment for Medicare beneficiaries by as much as half;

-Stops subsidizing other developing countries' health care through stronger trade agreements with real enforcement mechanisms.

Of the provisions included in H.R. 19:

-36 different 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 different provisions from bills passed out of the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.

-28 different provisions from bills passed out of 3 different Senate committees with bipartisan support.

-21 of these provisions come from the Grassley/Wyden drug pricing package, S. 2543, the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.

Source