Pelosi Remarks at Steering & Policy Committee Hearing: ‘Soaring Prescription Drug Prices: A Bitter Pill to Swallow’

Contact: Ashley Etienne/Henry Connelly, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined House Democrats for a Steering and Policy Committee hearing entitled ‘Soaring Prescription Drug Prices: A Bitter Pill to Swallow'. Below are the Leader's opening remarks:

Leader Pelosi Opening Remarks.

Leader Pelosi. Thank you to our wonderful list of witnesses who will be presenting. I'm moving promptly because you never know when there might be votes called here today. But I do want to say that this was a hearing under the auspicious of Steering and Policy Committee Co-Chairs Rosa DeLauro and Eric Swalwell.

Eric is in Intelligence [Committee Hearings], Rosa will be here shortly, and our Energy and Commerce [Committee] people are in an Opioid markup. So we may or may not see them.

But I am honored to be here with [Congressman] Lloyd Doggett, who has for years taken the lead on this issue going back to '06 when you were instrumental in making that one of our six priorities. The only one we couldn't get passed at that time.

I'm also pleased to be here with Congressman Mike Thompson, also of the Ways and Means Committee. As well, Congressman Judy Chu, both of California, and of the Ways and Means Committee too.

I'm going to yield to my distinguished colleague Mr. Doggett to do the introductions but before, I thank all of you for being here. This is an issue of financial and health security to America's families. This is an issue for twelve years – at least twelve years – we've been trying to get the availability of the Secretary to get negotiating power on the price of prescription drugs. We addressed the situation in the Affordable Care Act, not sufficiently because the cost continues to rise.

It is the biggest contributor to the price of health care in this country, so your testimony today is very, very important to us because the world is ready, the country is ready. They know. This hits home. This is a kitchen table issue.

And some of my colleagues in the House and some of our friends across the building in the Senate have said this is the most important issue in their districts. I am not talking from a political standpoint, I am speaking from the standpoint of economic stability of America's working families.

We are putting forth A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Pay, a Better Future. But part of that is to reduce the cost, not only to increase the paycheck, but to increase the cost of kitchen table concerns to America's working families.

And again, if not the biggest, certainly tied with the biggest concern that those families have is the uncertainty and the necessity of taking prescription drugs but also the uncertainty of what the cost will be.

So, thank you. Thank you for being here to all of you and Mr. [Lloyd] Doggett I'm going to yield to him to have the honor of making the introductions, but I may spare Mr. [Jack] Resneck because he comes from my district.

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