Providing for Consideration of H.R. Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Affordable Insulin Now Act; and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, in his outstanding State of the Union Address earlier this month, President Joe Biden presented Democrats' visionary agenda to build a better America with lower healthcare costs for American families, and with justice in all that we do.

House Democrats have long led the charge to lower the costs of prescription drugs. So it is with great pride that the Democratic House today will advance one of the pillars of this vision: capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month. In doing so, we take another important step in the fight to bring down drug prices across the board for every American family.

I thank the lead sponsors of this legislation who have been relentless, dissatisfied, and persistent in this fight: Congresswoman Angie Craig, Congressman Dan Kildee, and Congresswoman Lucy McBath of Georgia.

I salute the chairs of the committees of jurisdiction for helping steer this vital legislation to the floor: Chairman Frank Pallone of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Chairman Richie Neal of the Committee on Ways and Means, and Chairman Bobby Scott of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Everyone knows that the cost of insulin--a lifesaving drug that has been around for a century--is outrageous and out of control. That cost is outrageous and out of control. On average, Americans pay more than 10 times for insulin compared to what consumers around the world pay. Here in the United States the price of insulin skyrocketed by 54 percent from 2014 to 2019. Meanwhile, Big Pharma is reaping record- breaking profits; producing insulin at about $10 a vial, while charging families up to 30 times that amount.

This affordability crisis is taking a severe human toll. One in four Americans who rely on insulin have been forced to ration or skip their dose--a practice that can be dangerous and even deadly. And working parents with a family member on insulin are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety and are often forced to choose between paying their bills and protecting the health of a loved one.

Indeed, across the country, as I have said on this floor before, I have seen grown men cry about how they cannot meet their family's needs when it comes to prescription drugs. This crisis is a kitchen-table issue for millions of families, and it is a medical, economic, and moral imperative that Congress take action.

The Affordable Insulin Now Act not only requires Medicare and commercial users to cover lifesaving insulin on their plans, but also caps the out-of-pocket costs for families at $35 per month. In doing so, we put more money back in the pockets of hardworking families and vulnerable seniors. This is crucial right now, as so many Americans struggle to keep up with the burdensome, everyday costs. Of course, this has even been exacerbated with COVID which has, in many instances, spread diabetes more.

House Democrats proudly passed a cap on insulin's cost in the Build Back Better legislation last year. We already did this last year. Today, we, again, take this strong step toward lower health costs for the people. To be clear, comprehensive reform is urgently needed to lift the crushing burden of prescription drug prices weighing on our families.

Democrats will never ever relent, Mr. Speaker, until we realize our longstanding goal of lowering drug prices across the board. And we are continuing our fight to empower Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices--we have been working on that for decades--and make these lower prices available to Americans with private insurance, too.

We do so in honor of the late Chairman Elijah Cummings, the North Star in Congress and a relentless warrior for lower drug prices, with the Lower Drug Costs Now Act.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, this rule applies not just to lowering the cost of insulin but also to the very important MORE Act.

I also rise today in support of this urgent legislation that will help pave the path toward racial and economic justice.

I thank Chairman Jerry Nadler for his steadfast voice for equity and opportunity for all at the helm of the Judiciary Committee.

I salute Congressman Ed Perlmutter for his tireless and longstanding leadership on this issue, a relentless persistence to satisfy, as the gentleman says. Thank heaven, we are passing it today.

I also want to commend Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Earl Blumenauer for their persistence as well.

For far too long, Mr. Speaker, failed Federal drug policies have torn apart families and devastated communities of color. People of color are four times more likely to be arrested on cannabis charges and are often targeted for longer prison terms than others. Tragically, the communities most harmed by criminalization are benefiting the least from the legal cannabis marketplace as prior cannabis convictions are barring too many of them from entering the industry. As a result, only one-fifth of cannabis businesses are minority owned, and only 4 percent of owners are Black. Meanwhile, more than 600,000 Americans are still arrested each year on cannabis charges, threatening to perpetuate this vicious cycle.

With the MORE Act, which the Democratic House proudly passed last Congress, we take strong actions to correct these injustices.

This landmark legislation is one of the most important criminal justice reform bills in recent history: delivering justice for those harmed by the brutal and unfair consequences of criminalization; opening the doors of opportunity for all to participate in this rapidly growing industry; and decriminalizing cannabis at the Federal level so we do not repeat the grave mistakes of our past.

Those of us from California take pride in our State's long leadership in this justice effort, and in recent years, 46 more States have reformed cannabis laws. As the distinguished gentleman from Colorado mentioned in his remarks, 47 States have taken this act. Now it is time for the Federal Government to follow suit.

Both of the bills that the House will pass today that are covered by this rule, the insulin bill and the MORE Act, are overwhelmingly popular with the American people, and they represent strong steps toward building a brighter and fairer future for our children.

Mr. Speaker, I urge strong, bipartisan ``yes'' votes on both bills and on the rule.

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