Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Democrats Advancing Legislation To Lower Prescription Drug Costs

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on Senate Democrats’ work to advance legislation to lower prescription drug prices and stop health insurance premium increases. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Senate Democrats continue our work to advance legislation that will lower costs and improve the lives of tens of millions of American families.

Last week, Democrats and Republicans held our bipartisan prescription drugs Byrd Bath meetings with the parliamentarian. As a reminder, this important preliminary step will clear the way for passing our reforms through the reconciliation process. I want to thank Chairs Wyden, Sanders and Murray and the tireless work of their Finance, Budget and HELP committee staff for working around the clock on this important effort.

If you want to fight inflation, then you should support passing this much needed proposal on lowering prescription drug costs.

Here’s why: for the first time ever we will empower Medicare to negotiate the price of many expensive and vital prescription drugs, directly lowering what patients and taxpayers pay for these drugs.

We will cap Americans’ out of pocket drug expenses to $2,000 a year. 

Medicare will offer free vaccines and additional support for the low-income elderly.

And crucially, we will ensure that millions don’t see their health care premiums skyrocket in the coming months.

Let me say it again, because it is key and I say it to our colleagues across the aisle, our Republican colleagues: if you want to help Americans better afford their health care and medications, then you should support passing this bill!

The United States’ citizens pay more on average for prescription drugs than any other people on Earth, all for the exact same medicines that other countries use.

The Democratic plan will finally help change that.

Too many in this country find themselves in the confounding indignity of having to choose between getting their prescription drugs filled or putting food on the table for their families.

Democrats’ plan will finally help change that.

And even as working Americans struggle to afford high quality health care and medications, the nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies face little accountability for jacking up prices on consumers.

Again, Democrats’ plan will help change that.

For months, we’ve heard Republicans complain and complain about the need to lower costs for the American people. Well, Democrats will present the Senate with a proposal that will do precisely that in a very big way.

What will they choose on the other side of the aisle?

Will they work with us to lower the cost for prescription medications? Will they shore up our health care system and prevent devastating price hikes? Will they finally join us in holding Big Pharma accountable?

This is not complicated: Senators can vote to lower costs or they can vote for higher costs.

The American people will be watching.

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