WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL) today voted against, H.R. 3, the Fewer Cures and More Government Price Control Act. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 38 cures will not come to market because of this legislation over the next two decades. Congressman LaHood is, instead, a cosponsor of the bipartisan alternative, H.R. 19 – The Lower Costs, More Cures Act.
As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. LaHood spoke during floor debate in opposition of H.R. 3, highlighting his efforts to support Alzheimer’s research during the previous Committee debate, the impact H.R. 3 will have on patients, and the need to pass H.R. 19, which provides a bipartisan solution to actually help lower prescription drug costs. You can view his remarks here.
“We all recognize that the cost of prescription drugs is too high in this country, and there is strong bipartisan support to find a solution,” said Rep. LaHood. “Patients shouldn’t have to choose between affordable medicines and life-saving cures. That’s why it is so disappointing that Democrats are barreling ahead with legislation that allows the government to arbitrarily set rates, will result in fewer cures, and has no chance of becoming law. Instead, the House should support H.R. 19, which is a bipartisan solution that will lower the cost of medications without limiting new lifesaving cure. It is disappointing Speaker Pelosi won’t allow this bipartisan effort to move forward, instead of forcing a partisan agenda on our constituents.”
H.R. 19—The Lower Cost, More Cures Act
- Cuts the cost of drug administration, including cancer treatment, for Medicare beneficiaries by as much as half.
- Encourages innovation of groundbreaking new cures, promotes more low-cost options for patients, and curbs how drug companies can game the system.
- Provides the first-ever out-of-pocket spending cap for seniors in the Medicare Part D program.
- Caps the cost of insulin for seniors in the Medicare Part D program.
- Increases transparency and removes uncertainty at the pharmacy counter.
- Includes over 40 policies that has bipartisan, bicameral support
H.R. 3—The Fewer Cures and More Government Price Control Act
- Undermines access to lifesaving medicines. Under Pelosi's partisan plan, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates 38 fewer cures would be developed over the next two decades. The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) estimates it could be more than 100 fewer cures.
- Uses the weight of the federal government to threaten manufacturers with a 95 percent tax on revenue if they don't comply with bureaucratic demands during price negotiation. That's not negotiation, that's coercion.
- Jeopardizes months of bipartisan work to cap senior citizens' out-of-pocket costs for prescription drug spending by opting for a partisan plan to appease progressives.
- Will not be signed by President Trump.
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