December 11, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 198 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H10033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PREVENT BIG PHARMA FROM RAISING THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PAST 
                           RATE OF INFLATION

  (Mr. CROW asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3, the Elijah 
E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act.
  For too long, we have seen the influence of Big Pharma on this 
Chamber. For every Member of Congress, there are three industry 
lobbyists looking to buy their vote.
  Meanwhile, back home in Colorado, one in three of my constituents 
can't afford to pay for their medication. It needs to stop.
  I am proud to have helped introduce a provision to H.R. 3 that would 
prevent Big Pharma from raising the cost of prescription drugs past the 
rate of inflation.
  I stand here today for the 300,000 Coloradans with diabetes who will 
save 75 percent on their insulin. I stand here today for the 400,000 
Coloradans with asthma, who will save 80 percent on their 
prescriptions.
  And tomorrow I will cast my vote for my constituents, people like Sue 
Way of Aurora, who, after seeing her insulin increase by 500 percent, 
was forced to ration her medicine, resulting in an ulcer.
  Her story is the story of so many Coloradans. The time is now to 
deliver on our promise to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

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