“We Should Not Reward Price Gouging While Hurting Seniors”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Tax Policy Subcommittee, made the following remarks during the full Ways and Means Committee mark-up of the Republicans' so-called "American Health Care Act." Rep. Doggett said:
"Americans are faced with a major healthcare crisis: the soaring cost of prescription drug prices. Instead of doing anything to address this profiteering and bring down costs for American families, the Republicans gave Big Pharma a huge $28.5 billion windfall in their ‘Pay More For Less' TrumpCare bill. Giving this tax break to the pharmaceutical industry takes money directly out of the Medicare Trust Fund, which so many seniors rely on, and is projected to drive up Medicare Part B premiums. The President promised not to touch Medicare and Medicaid, and yet this ill-conceived bill would line the pockets of wealthy pharmaceutical companies at the expense of our Nation's seniors. I introduced an amendment today that would help right that wrong and restore dollars to the Medicare Part B Trust Fund, lowering costs for beneficiaries and states. We should not reward price gouging while hurting seniors. Unfortunately, the Republicans would not even allow a vote on my amendment."
You can view Congressman Doggett's full introduction of his amendment here.