Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives U.S. House Of Representatives 20240713

Cspan radio app. We will take you to the house of a present ofs. Of representatives. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker the house will be in order. The prayer will be delivered by chaplain, father conroy. Chaplain conroy let us pray. Loving god, we give you thanks day. Iving us another during these cold, early, darkening days, we ask your upon those who labor in the nations capital. Members of the house and those of the senate to act carefully in the important work they do. Days of this session, may they continue to heed the voices of all their both those who voted for them and those who did not. The ll that is done within peoples house be for your glory. Honor and amen. The speaker the chair has examined the journal of the last and announces gs o the chamber her approval thereof. Pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1 the journal stands approved. The pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Budd. Budd america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The speaker the chair will entertain up to five requests oneminute speeches on each side of the aisle. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from new jersey seek recognition . Speaker. You, madam i ask to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. Objection, without the gentlewoman is recognized minute. Ms. Sherrill thank you, madam speaker. On this seventh day of salt, my me tituents have said to that we cannot fix the salt slashing cap by simply our state and local taxes because these taxes fund ritical Community Priorities like our Public School system. I am incredibly proud that new erseys Public School system was just ranked one in the entire country. Of factors go into that achievement, including student achievement, the success of once they leave school, and school funding. Madam speaker, new jersey ranks in d in the country percentage of our tax dollars allocated to education. Residents use our know that investment in our schools is a down payment on a bright future. Many families make new jersey their home, and this investment benefits not only new jersey. Our students grow up to work, serve, and lead in organizations thess the nation and across globe. That includes four, yes, four the astronauts produced by Public Schools in my Congressional District alone. We need to restore the salt stop ion cap and penalizing states like new jersey that prioritize investment in our children and educate ssionals who the next generation. Investments that benefit the entire country. Yield back. D i the speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition . Mr. Carter i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Carter madam speaker, i to remember the life of mr. Cameron walters who 21 on away at the age of friday, december 6, during the attack on Naval Air Station pensacola. Hill inly from richmond the first Congressional District of georgia, mr. Walters was a naval n training at the air station. E had recently passed an exam in order to stand watch over the entrances station and when the firstrang out, it was his time on guard duty. Before the tragic attack, mr. Navy to oined the follow in his fathers footsteps and build a better sense of life. E in his father remembers that when he graduated boot camp, the grin face said it all, and he was so proud to have the opportunity to earn his wings as navy airman. For his friends and classmates, his bright personality and sense light up any room he walked into. Mr. S truly devastating that walters life was cut so short a life is tragic event, that had so much enthusiasm to serve this country and make this world a better place to live. Walters family and friends will be in my thoughts and prayers during this most time. Cult thank you, madam speaker, and i back. For peaker pro tempore what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask the mous consent that when house adjourns today it adjourn to meet at noon tomorrow. Withoutker pro tempore objection. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Speaker, i am proud to be voting today for the passage Elijah Cummings lower drug costs act, allowing lower drug negotiate prices for certain highcost drugs. H. R. 3 prouder that will reinvest the savings from hese drug negotiations into a transformational expansion of medicare benefits which includes and ne vision, hearing, dental care. Ms. Eshoo i have fought for ears to include these Critical Services in my seniors have teeth act, and importantly, giving our older adults the gift of hearing, vision, and oral health long way to helping them enjoy their golden years, depression and social isolation. Its time to recognize that otal health care for our seniors must include adequate ccess to vision, hearing, and dental services. I urge my colleagues to vote yes for h. R. 3. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the ouse for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today to wish a happy guard y to the national and all services members, past and present. Established in 1636, organized in the massachusetts and referred to as minute men during the revolutionary war. And Air National Guard make up 184,000 heroes who bravely stepped up to defend our freedom. They made history by forming one of the most africanamerican units during the civil war. They contributed 50,000 personnel following the 9 11 attacks. As i speak, they help secure our southern borders. More importantly, the national as each s itself apart member is sworn to uphold two constitutions, both federal and state. Us are familiar with guard units helping communities eal with floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, snowstorms, other emergencies, but in times of civil unrest, the citizens of can rest assure that the guard will be ready if needed. These incredible americans and ve to be recognized celebrated for their long and continued service to our nation of a grateful f nation, i say thank you for your sacrifice and your commitment. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without the gentleman is recognized. Thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, i rise today antisemitism t continues to threaten our country, including in my home state of new jersey. Investigations are still under was devastated to learn that victims in a kosher arket were likely targeted because they were jewish. All americans should be outraged when fellow citizens are of theirsimply because religion. The Antidefamation League has antisemitism remains at near historic levels. Third in the nked in year. Last new jersey stands together to honor the Police Officers harmed doing attack who were what they do every single day, getting our backs. Joseph ly detective seals. Mr. Gottheimer a 10year police own life o gave his protecting his community. We mourn with his loved ones and our prayers are with the Community Members still recovering. Together as one new jersey and as americans, i know we can which has no te place in our community and the state of new jersey or in our country. God continue may to bless the people of jersey city, the state of new jersey, and the United States of america. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from North Carolina seek recognition . To address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Budd thank you, madam speaker. I rise today to honor the life retired colonel john edward olah, North Carolina, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 94. In nel gray was born cleveland, North Carolina, on august 24, 1925, and went on to campaigns against the japanese in the Pacific Theater in the second world war. War, he returned home and resumed his education at davidson college. 1949, he raduated in served, again, in both the wars. And the vietnam selfless, legendary, valiant are mind e words that come to when thinking about all that this man accomplished in his life. Colonel gray is survived by his sue, of 72 years, five hildren, 12 grandchildren, and one greatgrandchild. Madam speaker, please join me in colonel the life of john edward gray. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one min e minute. The speaker pro tempore without the gentleman is recognized for one minute. You, madam speaker. I rise today because tomorrow town e holding my 33rd hall since being sworn in with three in each of the 11 counties making up my district. I promised my constituents i will be transparent, accountable, and accessible. New york 19 is nearly 8,000 square miles. Delgado larger than connecticut and rhode island combined. N the past year we spent hours in the car driving in the rain, snow, and sleet to meet folks where they are. Weve held town halls in fire departments, schools, small usinesses, and theaters and even had crowds spilling into the hallway. Hen the broadband signal was strong enough, the it was it was streamed on facebook live. This is house democracy is work, civil conversations with my constituents, finding common ground, concluding with reflecting the needs of the community. Town halls are a true highlight year in office and were just getting started. I look forward to meeting more at the highland middle school. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . I rise today to seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. Withoutker pro tempore objection, the gentlewoman is minute. Ed for one madam speaker, i rise today 150th emorate the anniversary of the founding of my hometown, garden city, new york. As the first planned suburban ommunity in the United States, the village of garden city is steeped in history. Air force base, garden city was here where our first Fighter Pilots trained during world war i. World war ii, we protected our eastern seaboard staging served as a ground against nazi germany. At the ity is also epicenter of areas including the Garden City Hotel which, today, continues to serve thousands of attending thoroughbred races at belmont track. A community that welcomed my family with open arms. It was in garden city where my eldest son of an irish immigrant, ran a Successful Construction Company where my grandparents raised e and my brothers and sisters and where i first learned about ublic service and public engagement. Im proud to join my friends, amily, neighbors, in celebrating the 150th anniversary. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 758 18, the chair declares the house in the committee of the whole house on the state of the further consideration of h. R. 3. Texas,e gentlewoman from mrs. Fletcher, kindly take the the chair the the clerk will report by title. The clerk a bill to establish a Fair Price Negotiation Program protect the Medicare Program from excessive price increases and establish out of pocket minimum for enrollees and for other purposes. The chair when the committee rose, 60 minutes remained in general debate. The gentleman from maryland, mr. Hoyer and the gentleman from oregon, mr. Walden each have 30 minutes remaining. Mr. Hoyer i rise in strong support of i yield myself such time as i i yield myself one minute. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Hoyer with this legislation, democrats are fulfilling our pledge to the American People in passing legislation that will bring down Prescription Drug costs for the people, for the people. That is one of the three central pillars for for the people agenda. We are delivering for the people. This legislation named in memory of my dear friend and our colleague Elijah Cummings who fought so hard to lower the cost of Prescription Drugs and give medicare the power to negotiate directly with Drug Companies ich will help bring drug prices down. As we do now, madam speaker, for our veterans. It will make the lower drug prices available for americans with private insurance, not just medicare, but private insurance and create a new out of pocket limit of 2,000, a cap on out of pocket expenses for Prescription Drugs for those on Medicare Part d. According to the nonpartisan congressional Budget Office, h. R. 3 will save american taxpayers approximately half a trillion dollars over the next 10 years. H. R. 3 reinvests those savings, madam speaker, in key initiatives, including expanding medicare benefits to cover dental, vision and hearing services, investing in new research, treatment and cures, and combatting the opioid opioid crisis, all three objectives that the American Public overwhelmingly support. President trump, madam speaker, promised in 2016 before his election that he would work to negotiate lower drug prices, something this bill would give his administration the authority to do. For that reason, he ought to support it. He said in 2016 when it comes time to negotiate the price of drugs, we are going to negotiate like crazy. He said that in the campaign setting, hopefully he Still Believes that today. I hope he will join and encourage the senate to take up h. R. 3 because in 2018, he said one common cancer drug is nearly seven times as expensive for medicare as it is for other countries. This happens because the government pays whatever price the drug company set without any negotiation whatsoever, so said President Trump on october 25, 2018. He went on to say, just a month ago, two months ago in october, quote, we want to bring our prices down to what other countries are paying. Or at least close. Madam speaker, thats what this legislation does. President trump went on to say, and let the other countries pay more, because they are setting such low prices that we are actually subsidizing other countries and thats not going to happen anymore. Those were remarks before the Cabinet Meeting on october 16, 2019, just a few weeks ago. Thats what this legislation does. That is why the senate ought to pass this legislation and the president ought to sign it. Hope hell join and encourage to take it up without delay. And his opposition being totally inconsistent with those three quotes that i just articulated. Too Many Americans are struggling to pay for their Prescription Drugs. I have heard awful stories from constituents in my district as i know every one of us about families rationing insulin and information go rent and food in order to pay for Prescription Drugs. Not an option. Without them, their health may deteriorate and may did die. One senior from clinton, maryland, wrote to tell me that one of her Prescription Drugs more than doubled in price and eft the pharmacy empty handed. Because she couldnt afford it. With h. R. 3 we can bring relief to people like that. With h. R. 3, we can lower the cost of Prescription Drugs so americans can live healthy lives and pursue their american dream. I thank chairman pallone, chairman neal and chairman scott and their committees for working hard on this bill to help americans lower their Prescription Drug costs and live longer and healthier lives. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, this should not be a partisan issue. The president talked about bringing prices down. Thats what this bill does, thats what c. B. O. Says it does. So i urge my colleagues to support this. I will now designate know you could do this, but i want to do it and Haley Stevens, extraordinary member, a wonderful member of the previous administration, somebody who has worked in the private and Public Sector and elected president of your class, madam speaker, an Extraordinary Group of 63 eople, 64, if we count con representative lamb and he is a Senior Member of the freshman class. Haley stevens leads an Extraordinary Group of 64 people. Contributed too much to our society already in their lives in their Productive Lives and now come to the congress and came with a promise to do three things at least. Number one, to help with wages and jobs and opportunities. Number two, to bring prescription costs down. And number three to invest in infrastructure. In this bill we meet onethird of those promises and they have made it possible. Now i yield to Haley Stevens of michigan to continue to preside over the 30 minutes that we have allocated on our side of the aisle. I thank you, madam speaker. The chair the gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Steve i reserve the remainder myi reserve the remainder of time. Mr. Walden i yield myself such time as i may assume. I appreciate the President Trumps comments. Never said a president of either party trying to get down the cost of Prescription Drugs and give taxpayers more of their hard earned income and get the economy up and running, tackle the issue of unemployment and t unemployment down, the lowest level and reduce the burdens of overregulation. President trump has done all those things. He has also called for getting down the price of Prescription Drugs. I have been in several meetings where he has done that and i share his passion for that and i know he wants a bipartisan bill that can become law and put on his desk. Everything you heard from the distinguished majority leader about President Trumps views are accurate, but he actually read h. R. 3 and if you read the statement of administrative policy, he recognizes that this goes too far and he would have to veto it. It is a partisanonly bill. Partisan only. Here is part of the problem with h. R. 3, it hands the government a club. There is no negotiation in here. If you dont agree what the government says the price should be, the government in washington comes after your revenues and 95 of your revenues for selling that drug they can take. It is well over 100 the drug manufacturer has innovated new drug and has the patent for that Great American innovation, the government says you dont sell for what we want, we are not taking your patent, but we are taking the revenues and bankrupt you. 138 different small innovative startup innovators in this space wrote to the speaker and the republican leader and i want to quote from their letter. They said we represent the commupte of biomedical Technologies Companies to develop therapies and cures for patients. We take pride we are providing and changing the world. These dreams will be shattered if h. R. 3, the lower drug cost now act is passed. Unfortunately h. R. Is unprecedented in aggressive of Drug Development and will limit Patient Access to extraordinary advances in health care. We degree that drug cost is too high and bring down the prices. Our alternative which we will debate in a few minutes does that but doesnt do it at the expense of completely up ending the ecosystem that allows american innovators to do what no one else in the world does as well, and that comes up with cures for diseases. Ill enter into the record the letter. I know the democrats said we dont care, its worth it. We dont need all those cures. And they said those are somebodys talking points. No, this is the congressional Budget Office, independent analysis that said we will lose 38 cures right out of the gates because of h. R. 3 and for every decade thereafter and every year in the 2030s, we will lose 30 . Is that the cure for alzheimers, a. L. S. , parkin sons. Democrats say its worth it to let those go to force the government price in this market. We dont think that has to be the case. They are making it with that with h. R. 3. We can have innovation without the heavy handed club mugging innovation by taking the revenues of companies when they dont agree with the government sets with the price. Foreign countries they want to model america after, upwards of 40 of cancer drugs are not available in those countries but available here in the United States. Go to one of the six indicator countries and look at how they control drug costs and we have a trade negotiator so we can get lower drug costs but what they do is, they control access. A lot of talk about death panels when obamacare was considered. This bill actually represents that. Were told that by the people who innovate in this space that they will not be able to continue to innovate as they have in the past and drugs wont be available because they wont be invented. Thats not just my words but the council of economic advisers. There isnt a think tank out there that h. R. 3 is going to do anything but that. Innovation goes up on the rocks, cures will never be found and americans wont be better off. We have Bipartisan Legislation in our substitute that will bring down drug costs, bring about prps, put a cap on what seniors spend on medicare, address the insulin cost issue and it can become law. With that, i reserve. The chair the the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlemans request to enter the letter will be covered by general leave. The gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. I yield myself such time as i may consume. And i want to thank our majority leader for designating his time managing the floor on the heals heels of the passage historic vote. Today is a beacon of hope for so many families who have been burdened by the outrageous cost of Prescription Drugs in this country. Lower drug costs now act. Lower drug costs now for the families who are counting on us, the families who are burdened with exorbitant costs of Prescription Drugs that they cannot afford. Lower Prescription Drugs for the parents of a child with a rare disability, who are wondering how they can afford to pay that bill, lower Prescription Drugs for the retired american who worked all of their life and now cannot afford to pay for that medication, lower Prescription Drugs now for the senior who is afraid to go to the pharmacy to pick up that Prescription Drug because of what it might cost, lower Prescription Drugs for the third of americans who do not get their Prescription Drugs because they cannot afford them. Some vm chosen to listen some listen to the Drug Companies. Take it from somebody who worked Lab Innovation research about the plight of research and and opment in this country the investments that go into funding basic innovation and how that gets done through publicprivate partnership. Do not put the American People at the expense of that we know that our basic Research Dollars rests ofhin the National Institute health, that they rest within the work that we are doing in the science committee. Legislation today, my friends, this legislation our priately named after beloved colleague, elijah never s, someone who was afraid to stand up for what was and and who led by true pure example. We were so blessed to have stood his light, and while serving as the chair of the oversight he showed us the way by uncovering many of these corrupt practices that have drug prices to be out of many. For so i am also especially pleased to highlight provisions in this that were long championed by one of my great friends and congressman er sandy levin. These provisions, for the first time, will allow our nations older adults to receive coverage for dental, vision, and hearing under medicare. Mr. Levin is proudly watching the e house in which he served for 36 ears as the house delivers on this effort. I can speak for members of the class who have stood on the shoulders of the members who us to say we were sent to washington with a costse, to bring down the of Prescription Drugs and to deliver for the American People h. R. 3. Long overdue change to the way we do business around here. The hands of the federal government to negotiate most for the oldest and expensive drugs in Medicare Part all apply those prices to americans. In my district, in michigans 11th district, southeastern michigan, h. R. 3, lower drugs now, stands to benefit over 100,000 people nrolled in Medicare Part d alone as well as over 600,000 people who are enrolled in Health Insurance. We all know someone whos had impacted by cancer. Hether it be a parent, a cousin, a relative, a dear friend. 9,000 women diagnosed with Breast Cancer in michigan lower ar, h. R. 3 will from medication by 65 , per year. 23,000 michiganders diagnosed with Prostate Cancer 3, lower , h. R. Prescription drugs now act, will lower the cost of their from over 100,000 to per year, and the list goes on and on. These patients live as lose to a 10minute drive from canada in michigan where canadians are paying cents on for the exact same drugs. That be in a uld country as wealthy, as innovative, as reative, and successful as ours. Drugs like insulin. H. R. 3 will finally level the Playing Field for americans. The tremendous savings generated h. R. 3, lower prescription rugs now act, will go right back into the research to develop new drugs with some of bringing us one step closer to stemming the tide of the opioid epidemic. Friends to join me in epidemic this opioid thats ravaging far too many across this beautiful country. Ar too many communities where recent graduates from high our high we go to School Graduate reunions in graveyards, in cemeteries of this opioid epidemic. I am proud that this historic also of legislation includes a bill that i had the privilege of authoring, to lower Prescription Drug costs for who income older adults are enrolled in the lowest cost art d plan that covers their medication needs. The time is now, and i urge my i implore them to follow the will of their h. R. 3, nts and pass ower drug costs now act of 2019. Thank you, madam speaker, and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from oregon is recognized. Mr. Walden thank you, madam speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. Its important to know that in our substitute, we cut the cost cancer treatments for seniors in half as well. There is bipartisan agreement on this. N fact, everything in our substitute is bipartisan. Its also important to note that in canada, it takes 14 months access to miracle new medicines compared to what we have in america. 52 of the medicines there. E have here there we have here. They have 60 of the cancer medicines. 40 of the medicines, the ones we see on 60 minutes cant get in canada. I dont want to import that here. When it comes to reducing access to drugs, basic research is essential. Nobody has done more to deal the gentleman from michigan, former chairman of the committee, fred upton, with cures tofort get more research into the National Institutes of health, yield him three minutes. The chair the gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Upton well, thank you, madam speaker. To thank the democratic leadership for, i think, the first time this year allowing to actually have a substitute to a major piece of legislation and i want to thank leadership because of that stub constitute is not a a partisan s not substitute but a bipartisan substitute. In fact, every single provision bill has got strong bipartisan support, which was together. Tomorrow, well mark the third anniversary of president obamas signing of 21st century cures, a bill that Diana Degette and i shepherd through our committee on unanimous vote and e passed here in the house 39226. It increased n. I. H. Funding by 45 billion over a 10year span. It sped up the approval of drugs devices, and just after three years, weve seen the cell, gene, and ucleoid therapies have more than doubled. In fact, research this last year actually exceed 13 billion. Predicted as is approving 20 to 30 gene therapy year 2035. E thats wonderful news. We all want to do something and thats rices, what a vote for our substitute, h. R. 19, will do, and the president will sign that bill. Ut hes not going to sign this bill, h. R. 3, because its going to slow down the ability to find a cures that we want to find for these awful diseases. My words. Arent just thats the c. B. O. , nonpartisan group. C. E. A. , the council of economic advisors. In todays wall street journal, former director of the f. D. A. , scott gottlieb, writes, week the house will vote on h. R. , the price control approach increase uncertainty and educe returns from biotech investments, raising the cost of capital for those invaluable endeavors. Hes right on. We want to find new cures. Technologiesnd new and to use those. We want precision medicine. Served on the Health Subcommittee for all my days on the energy and Commerce Committee. Firsthand the different families impacted by awful diseases, whether it e alzheimers or sickle cell, cystic fibrosis. Just this last week, we advancements, we think, in pancreatic cancer, 4. Ge 3, stage s. M. A. , spinal muscular atrophy, thats awful fatal by the year nine or 10, we saw a new drug had been on a for 15 days and for the first her she could actually move neck after more than 10 years iterally trapped in a wheelchair. If we want to find the chair the gentlemans time has expired. Advancements and cures for these diseases, we 19. To pass h. R. So i would urge my colleagues to vote for that substitute and get president that actually hell sign and we can get something done. That, madam speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Walden i reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens thank you, madam speaker. Minutes to the 2 gentlewoman from washington, ms. Delbene. The chair the gentlewoman from recognized. S ms. Delbene thank you, madam speaker. I rise today in support of h. R. 3, the Elijah Cummings lower costs now act. The rising cost of prescription top issues iof the hear about from my constituents, and its been getting worse. Alone, i received nearly four times as many calls and letters about prescription of last es than all year, and there are many, many stories. One today e to share to remind us why this legislation is so necessary. Mine, dana from kenmore, washington, has lived for nearly diabetes 14 years. When dana was first diagnosed, cost her 50 each month. Costs that same insulin over 600 per month. Thats an 1,100 increase for exact same product, and we talked about innovation, but there has been virtually no insulin since danas isgnosis, so the price spike inexplicable. Dana is not only a diabetes also a nurse es practitioner and a diabetes ducator, and shes told me about her parents that go to canada where they can get insulin for just 40 a month. Also shared stories of her own patients who cant afford their medications, who ration insulin, which we know can lead to poorer health, vision failure, and even death. H. R. 3 will finally give the ealth and Human Services secretary the power to negotiate a fair price for insulin, which dramatically help patients like dana and all the patients that she serves. To support lleagues his legislation, and i yield back. Ms. Stevens we reserve the balance of our time. He chair the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from oregon is recognized. Mr. Walden thank you, madam speaker. I am now privileged to yield a and a half to the gentleman from georgia, ongresss only pharmacist, buddy carter. The chair the gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Carter thank you, madam chair. I want to thank the gentleman yielding. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a situation here where we all want the same thing. Bring down to Prescription Drug prices. We want the same thing. Same thing. We can achieve the same thing. Thing achieve the same without taking risk of drugs not market. O the physicians, when they graduate from medical school, they take the hippocratic oath. It says, first, do no harm. You believe the congressional Budget Office, drugs, or whether you believe the council of 100 mic advisors its drugs, even if its one drug, its one drug too many. Cannot ply a chance we afford to take. Every one of us in this body story, knows someone whos suffered from that awful alzheimers. Awful disease. Story t luke tells a about her husband, richard, who barbara from that tells a story about her husband, richard, who suffered from that disease. Its the caregivers much. Ffers so finally, richard succumbs to hat disease after a sevenyear fight. Now, people who are diagnosed, who have families and loved ones with e diagnosed alzheimers come up to barbara and they ask her, what do i do . Do . Do i simply told me, all i can do is tell them to pray for a cure. Republican, democratic issue. This is our issue. This is americas issue. We have to solve it together, and we can do that. The chair the gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens i think we are all here to make that every alzheimers patient and every family affected by alzheimers has access to the lowest affordable Prescription Drugs which we are pleased to be ushering todays piece of legislation. And i am going to yield three minutes to the gentleman from nevada, mr. Horsford. The chair the gentleman from nevada is recognized. Mr. Horsford i would like to thank my colleague from michigan for her leadership and for guiding this debate on the floor today. And i rise to speak in support of h. R. 3, the alegiona cummings lower drug costs now act. Named after a man that i have Great Respect for who was a mentor of mine and fought so hard to hold big farm ave accountable and too many is the big day for the American People because we are putting their health over the interests of Big Pharmaceuticals profit. Im speaking in support of this legislation for the hundreds if not thousands of constituents who have shared their stories with me throughout this year. This issue is the single most important issue in my district. Im speaking in support for people like my constituent mario, about a year ago, mario was diagnosed with diabetes and recently sought care for a leagues on his leagues shon on his foot. Mario ended up losing his toe and had to leave his job. His daughter had to drop out of college to work fulltime to pay for marios medication. So this is an issue that not only impacts the lives of the patients who are in desperate need of the lifesaving medications to stay health but impacting those who love and care for them. It is altering the future of their families and as chairman cummings would say, we are better than this. We are better than this as a nation, to put the interests of farm cuticles and their profits over the interests of the American People and their health. For far too long, American Families have been forced to pay four, five or even 10 times more for their prescriptions than patients in other countries. To my colleagues on the other side think thats right that your constituents are subsidizing the health care for people across the world and you have people in your own neighborhoods who are rash shonning their medications, making a false choice to pay their rent, buy food or take the necessary medication as prescribed by their doctor . Well, i dont think. I dont think thats a choice the American People should have to make. Today, we are taking the necessary action to move this legislation forward and i hope that my colleagues on the other side will work with us and that the president will work with us, because what my constituents tell me is that they are not democrats, they are not republicans, they are not independents. They tell me they have diabetes, cancer, Heart Disease, asthma, hivaids, they are dying and they need the health care that they demand. With that, madam speaker, i ask s to pass h. R. 3 and i yield back. Ms. Stevens i reserve. The chair the gentlewoman reserves. Mr. Walden could i infire how much time each side has remaining . The chair oregon has 18 minutes and the gentlewoman from michigan has 17 1 2 minutes. Mr. Walden i yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Holding. Mr. Holding h. R. 3 is a short sided proposal. It will compromise the strong legacy that our nation is proud of. It would be a mace take to change the market for cutting edge. Government price setting will kill innovation in critical areas. The pricing scheme outlined in h. R. 3 will disincentivize research and development of drugs that are first in their class such as the future cure for alzheimers and a. L. S. Price controls will kill innovation and the doctorpatient relationships in this country. This bill would allow bureaucrats to make the most personal choices about course of treatment for our constituents, treatment decisions in this country should be made between a patient and their physician and not be based on the treatments by bureaucrats in foreign nations. H. R. 3 pricing scheme would shatter the pharmaceutical ecosystem that supports 40,000 jobs directly and generates 13 billion in economic output annually. Thats just in North Carolina. H. R. 3 would put small and midsided firms out of business and threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs. We should advance meaningful legislation that lowers patients out of pocket costs, protects innovation and will actually be signed into law. With that, i yield back. Mr. Walden i reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens i yield three minutes to the gentleman from colorado, mr. Crow. Mr. Castro i rise today to speak in favor of h. R. 3, the alegiona cummings lower drug costs now act and eager to vote for this landmark piece of legislation. I am proud we are standing here boldly to take a stand against special interests in congress and stand for the American People to help them afford critical lifesaving medications. Back home in colorados 6th district, when im hosting town halls or round tables, i hear the same thing, Prescription Drugs are too expensive and Congress Needs to act now. Currently as we stand here, one in three residents of colorado cant afford to pay their basic medications and have to ration their medication or stop taking it all together. This needs to stop. Thousands are diagnosed with cancer every year and many of the treatments for these or more. Ost 100,000 the pharmaceutical companies are price gouging our constituents across the country. This needs to stop now. Im proud to have worked with my freshman colleague, representative porter, to introduce h. R. 4463, which has been included as a provision in h. R. 3. Our provision would hold these bad actors accountable and prevent them from raising the cost of Prescription Drugs past the rate of inflation. The c. B. O. Found this measure would save american taxpayers 38 billion over the next decade. H. R. 3 gives the government the authority to negotiate prices for insulin and other lifesaving drugs. 300,000 residents of colorado will save up to 75 on their insulin under h. R. 3. And it caps the exorbitant amount that seniors have to pay for drugs that improves the quality of their life. As i stand here today, thousands with Heart Disease, asthma and cancer will benefit from h. R. 3. On top of the drug pricing provisions this bill invests billions of savings back into our Health Care System. 10 p billion would go to Community Health centers serving 29 million from underserved communities and invests 10 promote to n. I. H. To research and drug safety and 10 billion to respond to our ations opioided epidemic. We cannot wait while our neighbors and family members lives are at risk and pharmaceutical Companies Continue to make tens of billions of dollars. Americans expect us to deliver on our promise to reduce Prescription Drugs. I cast my vote as a yes today to deliver relief for my constituents and the American People. Thank you, i yield back. Ms. Stevens i yield myself 30 seconds. Simple point of clarification today as we embark on historic moment, we are looking to pass the lower Prescription Drugs act ow legislation, not the invest in r d act and embracing the status quo for the millions of americans who are counting on us that is certainly and wholly unacceptable. I reserve the remainder of my time. E chair the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Walden i yield myself a minute and a half. Madam speaker, ill make clear, im always willing to come to the other side of the aisle to work these things out. All of us came here with similar cause and calling to lower the cost of Prescription Drugs, to stop the abuse and bad behavior of pharmaceutical companies when they keep generics from coming to market. I dont think anybody came here to take away cures for patients who come to our offices everyier gging for a cure for alzheimers, pancreatic or a. L. S. My mother died from ovarian cancer, my sisterinlaw died of brain cancer and lost a son to a heart defect. We all want cures. We know by independent analysis h. R. 3 denies access to cures. That is a fact. It is a fact that council of economic advisers says up to 100 cures will be lost. Congressional Budget Office says 38 cures will be lost. It doesnt have to be that way. We can lower drug costs. We can have innovation. My friend from michigan talked about being involved in the innovation world. This is a letter from 138 leaders who beg us not to shatter the dreams of americans which they say h. R. 3 will do while President Trump has said he cant sign this. I yield myself 15 more seconds. We have an alternative. Everything in our substitute is bipartisan. And even if you feel like you have to vote for h. R. 3, no reason you should have to vote against the proposals in here. They are all bipartisan. They will bring meaningful relief to our folks at home and nothing in here will reduce innovation. And i yield back. Ms. Stevens madam speaker, i now yield two minutes to the the gentlewoman from arizona, mrs. Kirkpatrick. Kirk kirk thank you, madam speaker. I just want to echo what i hear from my constituents, do i put gas in my car or do i buy my medication . Do i put food on the table for my family or do i pay for my Prescription Drugs . Do i buy a generic drug here in the United States, which costs 900 or do i drive to mexico where i can buy it for 9 . These are real lifesaving, life or death issues we are dealing with. And i just want you to know, this is personal to me, because i was a 19yearold waitress and i came home one night to my family and my parents werent home and they said your dad your mom took your dad to the hospital. And i drove to the hospital. I said ok, ill go check on him. As i was walking in the door, the doctor walked out and he said your dad is dead. And that was a lack of Health Care Including Prescription Drugs. He had an undiagnosed Heart Disease that could have been treated and in this day and age wouldnt have been an issue. So i fully support h. R. 3. This is something that is critical to American Families and that theyre dealing with every day. A mother shouldnt have to decide if she is going to drive to mexico where she is not exactly sure if the drug she is purchasing for her child has the same standards and quality that she would get here in the United States. So i urge my colleagues to support h. R. 3. This is life or death. Thank you. I yield back. Ms. Stevens i reserve the remainder of my time. The chair the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Let me start out with this. I would like to yield two minutes to the gentleman from ohio, key leader on health care, ways and means committee, dr. Wenstrup. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Wenstrup i thank the gentleman from texas. 26 years ago, my sister had two forms of leukemia, but because of earlier Clinical Trials and innovative treatments there was a way to get some leukemia patients into remission. And we developed bone marrow transplants and five years later they called her a cure. Today my sister is alive, working and raising a family. And we have treatments for leukemia without needing a bone marrow treatment. These are just steps in finding cures. As we work to lower Prescription Drug prices, i want to make sure we are looking at it from all angles and be aware of the quality and access to care to Effective Solutions to lowering drug prices. H. R. 3 puts a knife in the pillars of health innovation. Relying on Foreign Countries to set our prices is misguided. To see the u. S. Be controlled or manipulated by an some other kabul of affects our t patients. Other countries dont share the priorities of access to care and saving lives. What do we sacrifice with this bill . Care, cutting edge research, a lifesaving drug . Unfortunately, the approach dangerous oday is a one. Government price controls is a 95 tax willat of a dramatically hurt our countrys ability to research and innovate new cures. Bill will how the lead to the loss of dozens of new drugs. That means fewer lifesaving fewer american lives saved. As a physician, i can attest that every doctors goal is to the best treatment for their patients. E can do more without letting this stop without going and having this stop development and innovation. Republican alternative to this bill, h. R. 19, is bipartisan. Its an effort to lower prices while rug also protecting patients access to new medicines and cures. Americans deserve to have a Health Care System that delivers treatments when they need it more nd makes care affordable. Back. Hat i yield the chair the gentleman from reserves. The gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens madam speaker, i yield one minute to the entleman from california, mr. Rouda. Mr. Rouda i thank the gentlewoman from michigan for yielding one minute. Adam chair, i rise today in elijah e. H. R. 3, the cummings lower drug costs now act. Earlier this year, chairman convened our first Oversight Committee hearing to examine the impact of soaring on our tion costs constituents. It is fitting we name this legislation to honor our friend to highlight avel the stories of americans who are suffering and dying because they afford astronomical drug prices while living in the greatest and richest country in world. This bill would institute negotiation for fair drug rices, lower outofpocket costs for seniors, improve coverage for medicare and invest in an innovative and new treatment in ur fight against the addiction crisis. I support this legislation because it would improve access Prescription Drugs or more than 600,000 of my constituents. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and ensure our access to s have lifesaving medication. I yield back. Ms. Stevens madam speaker, i reserve the remainder of my time. He chair the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady thank you, madam chair. I yield myself two minutes. Heard today that we surpass h. R. Should pass h. R. You can go to canada and get medicines for pennies on the dollar. What they dont tell you. You are lots of medicines can get for zero in canada available. Y are not canadians have access to about half of the lifesaving cures america. Here in guess where they come when they that recent e, medical breakthrough . They come to america. We startt happens when acting and behaving like canada . Hos going to be our safety net . Why should patients in america have to choose between a ordable medicines and lifesaving cure for alzheimers, cancer . Parkinsons or why should parents with Sick Children in america be forced to ait longer for the newest drug breakthrough that could save their life . And why should americans face a life because the cost list and most painful drug to me that was never created . T the depths of Nancy Pelosis drug bill is a dangerous tradeoff. Lower drug prices in the short term, but fewer lifesaving cures in the future. This is a cruel and false which is why this bill will quickly die with no the tisan support in senate. As republicans, we believe we both lower drug prices nd accelerate now lifesaving cures. I and accelerate new lifesaving cures. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. Michigan isman from recognized. Ms. Stevens mr. Speaker, i seconds. Elf 30 pharmaceutical Drug Companies spend more on marketing than they do on r d. It is a fact that Life Expectancy in this country is down forn and has gone the third year in a row. It is a fact that we are in a moment of crisis and now is the for us to pass the lower Prescription Drugs act now. Mr. Speaker, i now yield two minutes to the gentlewoman, my ms. Friend from nevada, lee. The chair the gentlewoman from nevada is recognized. Ms. Lee thank you lee thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlelady for yielding to me. Here to speak in support of the elijah e. Cummings lower costs now act, and in particular, i want to speak in support of my bill, which is act, the n the enhancing Retirement Security act, edicare beneficiaries hich would guarantee that the disbursements of Retirement Savings are not counted when determining if someone qualifies Medicare Part ds lowincome subsidy program. As a young girl, i learned the of saving money. My first job was running a paper oute in my neighborhood in canton, ohio, at the age of 8, and at the end of every week, i quarter or two a just to save up for a candy bar. Taught me uch but it the importance that saving money is worth it. Seniors shouldur not be punished for saving for their retirement. But when Retirement Savings are towards eligibility for Prescription Drug assistance, we seniors hing the very who have been working hard and saving money. Group of s that no nevadans relies more on Prescription Drugs than our rising cost of living is hard enough on older americans. We should be making it easier them to retire in dignity and that means not forcing them choose between buying groceries or lifesaving medication. Was pleased that my bill included in the underlying text and its time that we lower Prescription Drug costs, not just for seniors on but for all americans. Thank you and i yield back. The chair the gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens mr. Speaker, i reserve the remainder of my time. The chair the gentleman from texas is recognized. You. Rady thank i yield myself 30 seconds. It is a fact that Drug Companies in america spend three times as much on r d than on marketing and advertising. The dangerous at pelosi drug bill robs up to 1 rillion of research and Development Costs that will not be used for lifesaving cures in america. From the ct congressional Budget Office that e will lose at least 38 new cures as a result of this bill. Ouncil of economiced a vieors economic advisors, up to 100 new cures. The California Council said the same. I am proud to yield two minutes to a key leader on the ways and means committee, the gentleman texas, mr. Arrington. The chair the gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Arrington thank you, mr. Speaker. To my friend and ranking republican on ways and means, opportunity. The thank you for your leadership on this important issue. Look, we all agree that the drugs are too high. Agree that something needs to be done to fix this for all seniors. , not just our the same i have, and its a big the way we go about doing this. Obamacare. Rerun of best. His government knows its this topdown government control. Ets tax and regulate and mandate our way to a better system. It doesnt work. Down on a ubling failed philosophy on how to affordable, quality people. To the american the approach should be more competition, a healthier market, greater transparency. The way, weve worked on those issues in a bipartisan fashion. Introduced legislation, two ieces of legislation with my democrat friends, that would do just that. Just oblem here is not this topdown, heavyhanded, lets fixknowsbest, the prices and assume nothing bad will happen. Going to nothing is come of this h. R. 3. Bill. Messaging its purely political. And it wont hem the people that all intend to help. And i do not judge the motives of my colleagues. To help our want seniors just as i do. Partisannt do it with messaging bills. We have to do it by working together. Used to, in a rm toer life i was vice life, chancell chancellor at texas tech. New drug therapies, market. S to i am out of time. I can tell you it didnt work prices, mr. Ixed speaker. The chair the gentleman from texas yields back. Is gentleman from texas recognized. Mr. Brady i reserve, mr. Chairman. The chair the gentleman reserves. Michigan isman from recognized. Ms. Stevens mr. Speaker, i am delighted to yield three minutes to the gentlewoman, my dear friend from michigan, ms. Slotkin. The chair the gentlewoman from is recognized. Ms. Slotkin mr. Chair, for the single most s, the ommon issue that michiganders raise with me is cost of Prescription Drugs. We do e demanding something about it. They clutch me at the grocery their son is rationing insulin or their daughter couldnt go to summer camp afford they couldnt inhalers. After being sworn in in january, earnest on rking in this issue. I am proud to stand behind my the h. R. And support 3, the lower drug costs now act. This will drive down the cost of countrys most expensive drugs by allowing our government o negotiate for the very best prices. To be clear, the v. A. Does the exact same thing. And n military insurance, the v. A. Can negotiate for drug prices. Why not allow medicare to do the same thing . To put this in perspective, michigan over 800,000 anders living michiganders with diabetes. They can cost 10,000 to 20,000 per year. Includes sarah who lives where i live who says shes life. Priced out of her her insulin costs are higher than her rent per month. His bill, if passed, would allow the government to negotiate, bringing the price a n to as little as 400 year. Once the price is negotiated, all americans, including recipients, benefit from that price. He bill would also improve Medicare Coverage for seniors and lower their outofpocket costs. Cointroduced , i a bill that includes vision coverage in medicare. Recipients, dicare once every two years, would get of ye exam and one set either glasses or contact. I am very pleased this was incorporated into this bigger other measures that would include hearing coverage and dental coverage for time. Rst finally, Preventive Care will be part of the routine coverage for medicare. Clear, the bill pays for itself. Negotiations saves us, according to the c. B. O. , 450 billion, hich covers the additions to medicare and still gives 10 billion for research and national t to the institutes of health. You will hear my colleagues and big pharma say you have to make choice between research and lifesaving cures and the price drugs. Cription that is a false choice, and anyone who watches tv and sees annoying ads know the Drug Companies have plenty of places funding. Eir members from both parties in the house and senate and indeed the president have said the right it comes to lowering the drug prices. Now its time to walk the walk. Balance of my e time. Thanks very much. The chair the gentlewoman from michigan yields back. The gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens mr. Speaker, i reserve the remainder of my time. The gentlewoman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady thank you, mr. Chairman. Introduce the republican leader of the house, the gentleman from california, mccarthy. The chair the gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Mccarthy thank you, mr. Speaker. Want to thank the gentleman for yielding but more importantly, i want to thank him for his work on this bill and the others as well in their committee. Theres an urgent need to soaring cost of Prescription Drugs that burden too many American Families. We need a solution that lowers actual costs and find cures for disease and illness. This congress has spent great deal of time that we have cures for the future. That is why republicans introduced this bill, lower costs, more cures act and i urge all my colleagues to support it. The bill was written with a rule. Each policy must be bipartisan. I know in this town and in this climate, that is not achieved very often. For an issue as crucial as lowering the cost of Prescription Drugs for americans, partisanship should be set aside. Later today, we will see which side and which bill is bipartisan. By drawing on the very best ideas, h. R. 19 makes crucial reforms that will lower out of pocket costs for americans at drug store counters. For seniors, it makes medication more affordable by capping their out of pocket costs and increases availability of generic by prohibiting Drug Companies by delaying the start of their period. Speeds up the f. D. A. Approval process. Requiring Insurance Companies to make information about drug costs available in the Doctors Office before a prescription is written and for diabetics who have high deductibles, insurance should cover the cost of insulin before meeting the plans deductibility. While republicans have practical solutions, dem cats are opening the door to a government takeover of our Prescription Drug market. Mr. Speaker, speaker pelosis partisan plan h. R. 3 would make our broken system worse by placing barriers between americans and their medications, by reducing the number of new drugs on the market instead of helping them reach the patient. According to estimates from the council of economic advisers, the speakers radical proposal could kill upwards of 100 new drugs over the next decade. Pause for one moment and think about that. 100 new drugs over the next decade will be killed by passing h. R. 3. Thats a third of the total number of new drugs expected to enter the market during that time. Moreover the council estimates that h. R. 3 would reduce americas average Life Expectancy by four months. Nearly a quarter of the projected gains in Life Expectancy over the next decade. Merely because you want to appease the progressive base and have a partisan bill that denies re cures and makes our lives live less, but you will achieve one goal today, you will have one party vote for a bill that will not become law, but appease a base with this impeachment. Not just the council, the c. B. O. Reports fewer drugs will be available because of the provisions in h. R. 3. The democrats plan is another example of how unnecessary government control harms the very people it claims to help. All of us have or know someone with a loved one who fought a disease or an illness which no cure has been found. How demoralizing would it be to cut off hope for a future cure. All of us have gone through this. My father never got to see the day i was elected because he lost his life to cancer. I would give anything to have found a cure for my fathers cancer. But its not just his. If we delay one cure, thats one cure too many. The best way to lower costs is not to lose the cures, even the loss of one. Mr. Speaker, americans want the government to put the best available ideas into action and deliver solutions and not political posturing. The saddest part of being today, we could have had Prescription Drug prices even lowered on this floor earlier this year. There was a window of. Pportunity, a moment of time a moment in the energy and Commerce Committee where every single democrat and every single republican on three bills to lower the cost of Prescription Drugs. I learned as a child on School House Rock im just a bill on capitol hill by the time the bill gets to the floor, it goes through leadership and unfortunately for americans across this country leadership changed that bill, not for members in the house, they changed that bill so when it came to the floor, it became partisan. And you know what . The drugs were not lowered, the bill did not become law and were repeating the exact same thing today. You will have two choices. You will have a choice of h. R. 3 , had to be negotiated even this week with progressives on the other side to appease them that this could be as partisan as it can be. It wont become law. It will be another talking point. A moment of time to try to explain why you wasted the majority on investigation, but you will have another opportunity, a substitute. You want to lower drug prices in 2019, vote for h. R. 19. You know why . Because every single provision n that bill is bipartisan. Can we not with one issue at one moment in one time put partisanship aside . Can we put people before politics . Can we expand our Life Expectancy, can we cure 100 more cures . Can we do that . I know you might upset a few in your party. But think about how many more lives we will save. There is also a moment in time that i have hope that this congress will rise and keep the promises that i heard before an election took place. That we would be different. That we would govern together, that we would find bipartisanship. Today on the floor, youll have that window and will have a bill that has every single provision and will have a report that says no, we wont stop 100 new cures in the next decade and give hope to the American Public that there will be opportunity to cure disease that you have today and your life will live longer. And its the only bill on the floor today that could become law. If you want to make a real change, you have a voting card to do it. And i yield back. The chair the gentleman from california yeelingds back. The gentleman from texas reserves . Mr. Brady i reserve. The chair the gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens i yield one minute to the gentleman from new york, my friend from new york, mr. Rose. Mr. Rose my job was to make sure those without health care and those who could barely afford it could have access. We would see nurses and doctors do the impossible in the worst system. Without fail, we all would wonder why no one would do anything to change it. Well today, we are. This bill does not cater to a base, does not cater to big pharma, but this bill does cater to that family tonight who is going to have to choose between paying for Prescription Drugs and putting food on the table. This bill caters to the American People. Today big pharma loses and the American People win, because what were doing today is giving medicare the power to negotiate skyrocketing costs of Prescription Drugs. This historic legislation creates new out of pocket limits on Prescription Drug costs for medicare beneficiaries. If invests in savings so we can create new breakthrough treatments and cures at n. I. H. And provides 10 billion in funding to combat the opioid opioid epidemic. For decades, big narma and count on pacs can their lobbyists to keep them safe at the expense of the American People. Today, the American People win and i urge my colleagues to vote yes. Ms. Stevens i reserve. The chair the gentlewoman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady i yield one minute to one of the leaders in health care, the gentleman from nebraska, mr. Fortenberry. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Fortenberry i want to thank both leaders for this debate. This is absolutely critical. And heres why. The other day, i went to the doctor, kind of a common ailment prescribed the antiby on theic. He said its 6. The list price was about 430. And nowto be 6 in 2011 430. We have a very big problem in america. Very big democrat and republican problem. I want to commend my democrat colleagues for raising the issue and making an agenda. There is strong disagreement with the nature of the policy proposal, but there ought to be unification around the idea we have to do something. I want to commend my republican colleagues of putting together a bill of all the bipartisan initiatives around here we can agree on. We are going to get stuck again really quickly. This bill has no chance of going into law. The partisan bill, there is some opposition to it and could be fleshed out further. The president has called for negotiations. This is an important part. Lets get back to work after we get past this moment. I thank everyone again for a good and spirited debate. The chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from texas reserves. The gentlewoman from michigan is reckfiesed. Ms. Stevens i yield one minute to the speaker of the house, ms. Pelosi. The chair the speaker of the house of representatives, ms. Pelosi is recognized. The speaker i thank the gentlewoman from michigan for yielding time and for her extraordinary leadership in so many ways. Just invigorating to see the freshmen members of this class taking the lead on this important legislation. Many of us just came in from the steps of the capitol where again freshmen members took the lead following up on a promise made last year during the election. For the people, we will lower the cost of health costs in america by lowering the cost of Prescription Drugs. H. R. 3 does just that. Named for our great and departed may rest in peace, Elijah Cummings, the Elijah Cummings lower drug cost now act. This is a product. This may come as news that we are saying things to the contrary, this is a product of the work of three committees in the congress. I thank chairman pallone of the energy and Commerce Committee, chairman richard neal of ways and means and bobby scott of the education and Labor Committee for tear relentless and persistent work on this lifesaving legislation where many freshmen are controlling the time but in the course of the debate under the committees of jurisdiction, many of them spoke at that time as well demonstrating their leadership on this issue making it a reality on the floor of the house. And i thank again for their bold and urgency to lower the costs, the crushing burden of Prescription Drugs is an issue that impacts every family in america. Much talk is given around here about having a seat at the table. The Kitchen Table of americas working families where they enjoy family but also address challenges that face them whether its in their health or Financial Health and how that is related. And so this legislation today speaks to that important table of concerns. And as i travel across the country i have seen grown men cry about how they cannot meet the needs of their families when it costs to Prescription Drug costs, children with chronic diseases and the rest. Prescription drug prices are out of control. The price of insulin invented nearly a century ago when people say we have to cover our research costs, doubled from 2012 to 2016 because of big pharmas. Many people buy it. Lets increase our profits, they say. Americans are paying four times or more to what big pharma charges for the exact drugs in other countries. While big pharma Companies Make profits and multi dollar wind falls from the g. O. P. Tax scam, 58 million americans couldnt fill a prescription that they needed to stay healthy. 58 million americans. Crisis that moral boldly. We act and act yes, they have a motion to recommit. Minorityrtant that the have an opportunity to put it on the floor. Dare they think of enabling the secretary to negotiate for heart rices which is the of the matter. We have been trying to do this for a number of years. Today we will. Last year, again, we made the promise for the people that we the cost of Prescription Drugs. We are finally giving medicare negotiate lower drug prices. Some republicans say its the secretary to be able to negotiate for lower prices. Unamerican. Making those lower prices available to the hundreds of americans with private insurance, too. We are insisting that American Families shouldnt have to pay more for our medicines than what big pharma drugs for the same overseas. I say that again. H. R. 3 means lowering the cost medication for americans with leukemia by more than 70 . Cost of lowering the medication for arthritis, which more than 50 million americans 75 . By almost it means lowering the cost of asthma medication for 25 million mericans with this condition from 1,500 to 270. Testify inwe had one our press conference yesterday. His medication for asthma, in his case, was over 60,000 a month. 80 of it was covered by pay over but he had to 4,000 a month. Absorb that, 4,000 a month for a drug that youre supposed to take four times a month . He was taking it twice a month, once a month, or not at all. A healthy thing to do. Big eaping big profits for pharma. Used h. R. 3, some commonly in insulins could cost as little as 400 a year. Lower drug cost act, ow we put more money in the ockets of hardworking americans. When we lift the immense burden f drug cost on employers, the c. B. O. Says american businesses can expect bigger paychecks and workers. For their. R. 3 also represents the most transformative expansion of inception. Nce its now, many people on other side f the aisle did not support medicare at its inception. But this is the vast improvement because we are investing more thats f a trillion, with a tr, half a trillion saving by are lowering outofcost prices and benefits for hearing, dental, eyes, and we are in the for new treatment and cures and fighting the opioid epidemic, as the gentleman from pointed out, rose, and in the Community Health centers that deliver quality ealth care to so Many Americans. Advocacy groups representing americans, lions of seniors, retirees, patients, the leaders, business and men and women of labor and more h. R. 3. Aarp wrote to members of congress this week and said, and this important legislation is a bold step to owering Prescription Drug prices and improving medicare for seniors and families across the country. Americans help more afford their Prescription Drugs and get the care they need to healthy. They said that in their support legislation. Theres every reason in the world for republicans to join us in passing this bill. President livers on trumps promise to the American People. Said, when it e comes time to negotiate the cost of drugs, were going to like crazy. Negotiation is what this bill is about. The republican substitute is and this bill is not about, that negotiation is the heart of the matter. Said, the president did, its unacceptable that americans in vastly more than people other countries for the exact same drugs, often made in the exact same place. Is wrong. This is unfair. And together we will stop it. In creating this bill and working with the committees do so, we were working with the interest of the white house, administration. How this happened but somewhere along the way the by. Ion fell by that could be contributed to i dont know what. In honor of ed chairman Elijah Cummings, our north star, who worked across pennsylvania down avenue he met with the president to lower Prescription Drug prices. In honor of chairman cummings for the sake of millions of americans struggling with high Prescription Drug costs, i urge strong vote on h. R. 3, to ower drug costs now for all americans, for the people. With that i urge an aye vote and ield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman from california yields back. The gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens mr. Speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman from michigan reserves. He gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady mr. Chairman, i yield myself 30 seconds. When the Republican Congress in 2003 joined with president affordable te the drug plan for seniors, then eader nancy pelosi and democrats tried to kill it. Created th said that she amously said that adding that would end medicare as we know it. Would have happened if the democrats stopped it . To illion seniors came depend upon. They were dangerously wrong then and they are dangerously wrong again. That im proud to yield two minutes to the leader of the Health Subcommittee for the ways committee, the gentleman from california, mr. Nunes. The chair the gentleman from california is recognized. Want to thank the gentleman from texas for yielding me. Toant to speak in opposition h. R. 3. Are too at drug costs high for americans. Republicans and democrats can agree on that. Better hy we spent the part of a year working towards a ipartisan solution to lower outofpocket Prescription Drug osts and crack down on overpriced drugs. Sadly, democrats abandoned that effort in favor of the socialist h. R. 3. In for democrats, the answer is always more government, and h. R. Is no exception. The bill gives the government powers to allow government bureaucrats to prices. Ily set new democrats continually call it negotiation. Heres how negotiation works under h. R. 3. Will telll government a drug company what the drug price is going to be, and if the drug company doesnt like it, two options. Revenue tax on their or leave the u. S. Market. That doesnt sound like to me. Tion the congressional Budget Office such this will result in low drug prices that some of the lifesaving cures wont even come market. Under this arrangement, there is very little incentive for drug andanies to invest the time money it takes to create new cures and treatments. 2. 6 billion akes dollars and 10 years to 15 years drug to e to bring one market. His bills arbitrary actions against Drug Companies carries a steep cost to the American People in the form of fewer cures. What cures will those be . Cancer, s, schizophrenia . Killing drug innovation and the development of lifesaving cures is unacceptable. Risk. t take that we have to do better for sick americans, hoping and praying for a cure for themselves or loved ones. We can solve this problem, but democrats fewer cures act. E have to do this in a bipartisan way. Fortunately, there is an alternative to the democrats proposal. His week, republicans have introduced h. R. 19. 15 more seconds. Mr. Brady i yield another 15 seconds. The lower cost more cures act. It contains effective bipartisan can become law right now. It cracks down on overpriced costs for owers patients without pressuring crushing the hope of future medicines. Its time to stop playing political games and start working towards solutions for people. Ican h. R. 3 is a terrible idea that will drive drugs out of the u. S. Market. That i yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from california yields back. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Texas tleman from reserves. The gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Speaker, if the. Gentleman from texas is prepared prepared to m close. The chair the gentleman from texas yields back. Michigan. Ewoman from mr. Brady no, i reserve. Ms. Stevens mr. Speaker, i ield myself such time as i may consume. The chair the gentlewoman will suspend. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady imagine life under. R. 3, the democrats fewer cures bill. There will be lower costs for some medicines, no doubt, both do that, but if you have a rare disease or your loved one its a. L. S. , er struggling with dementia or dynamic s, if you are person who now is struggling cancer, insons, diabetes, pulmonary your ension, the hope for cure may never come. The waiting for your cure may be years, decades, or never. Matter is, and its undeniable, h. R. 3, the democrats bill, will cause cures here in america. Dont take my word for it. Congressional Budget Office estimates 38 cures lost over the two decades. Council of economic advisors, over the next several decades. California associate life ife Science Association said we modeled, if we do what nancy of sis bill does, nine out the 10 nearly nine out of the 10 drugs we would have created exist. Ever never exist. There will be fewer cures for americans when we need it most, tell you, drug prices are too high in many cases. For these excuse price spikes, none at all. The cost ofou what, these drugs ever is the one thats never created, that ravages of these diseases to these loved ones who are struggling with them. Is the dy know this case, because in canada, france, these other countries that h. R. Us look like, they got about half the medicines we do. Hen they do get a medicine, theyll wait a year or two longer to even get it. A. L. S. , if you geoblastoma, you are done at that point. Hats what this bill brings about. We know fewer drugs in america because today we created over 111 new several years drugs. His is the france drug pricing scheme, 11. 111 in america. 11 in france. Thats their vision of a day in the life of someone with a rare, disease in america. Our bill, the lower cost more act lowers outofpocket costs for americans because we crack down on overpriced drugs. For example, s, the power and the information to choose the right place for their can lower their by half. Apy we pull back the curtain on everyone involved in this drug pricing process. E force Drug Companies to pay more and shoulder more burden in the part d prescription plan. To justify their increases, and we force them to list their prices in the ads so know. We accelerate. We dont kill lifesaving medical cures. Farther, farther than h. R. 3. We permanently make it easier or americans to deduct high medical expenses from their taxes, allowing them to use heir h. S. A. s for overthecounter medicines, including feminine hygiene products. Seniors over 300 a year n the pop layer medicare popular medicare prescription d program. Passed by congress and signed by President Trump this year if democrats abandon game and continue what was really good bipartisan shelved for this bill that dies. Its done, lets come back together. Lets work together. Everyone knows in good faith we tackle these drug prices. Lets prove america that we can work together, not for impeachment, not the junk were things our time on, but that really matter to families back home. With that i yield back. He chair the gentleman from texas yields back. The gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Ms. Stevens mr. Speaker, i balance of thee ms. Stevens i would like to say we have heard compelling argument today and heard compelling argument around the need and reason to lower the cost of Prescription Drugs now. We are taking bold and reasonable steps today to bring down the cost of Prescription Drugs in this country. It is a significant and historic day that ushers in a beacon of hope for so many. The answer from our democratic majority today is solutions, Solutions Based on fact, Solutions Based on the guiding preliminary of the people we represent to deliver for them. The question is when will we do something. Today, our legislation, the Elijah Cummings lower drug costs now act, that is what we are going to be passing, lowering drug costs now for the people who cannot wait, for the child or a parent who are pushed to the brink, to the older american who is afraid to go to the pharmacy to pick up their Prescription Drug because of what it might cost, to the senior who is afraid to go to the doctor just to get that prescription, to the onethird of americans who forego their Prescription Drugs because of their costs. President truman said that america is not built on fear. America is built on imagination. America is built on courage. And america is built on the willingness to do the job at hand, and that my friends, is what the majority is doing here today, tackling a solution for the millions of people, the countless number of people whose voices only make their way into their chamber but those who represent us, not the Large Multinational Companies who have more money than they know what to do with. It is for the individual hardworking america dan. It is why today i ask my colleagues to join me in passing the Elijah Cummings lowering drug costs now act for every american, for the people, by the people. This is a historic and proud day, mr. Speaker. And this is what we came here for. And i yield back. The chair the gentlewoman from michigan yields back. All time for general debate has expired. In lieu of the amendments in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committees on education and labor, energy and commerce and ways and means printed in the bill, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of rules Committee Print 11641, modified by the amendment printed in part a of the house report 1116334 shall be considered as adopted and shall be considered as an original bill for purpose of further amendment under the fiveminute rule. The bill as amended shall be considered as read. No further amendment to the bill as amended shall be in order except those printed in part b of house report 116334. Each such further amendments may be offered only in the order of the report by a member designated in the report, shall be considered read equally divided and controlled by the proponent and opponent, shall not be subject to amendment and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. It is now in order to consider amendment number one printed in 116334. House report for what purpose does the gentleman from oregon seek recognition . Mr. Walden i have an amendment at the desk. The clerk amendment number 1 printed in part bmp of house eport 116344 offered by mr. Walden of oregon. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 758, the gentleman from oregon, mr. Walden and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon. Mr. Walden i yield myself two minutes. I rise in the lower costs more cures act. There is a better way, ladies and gentlemen. Can reduce the high cost of drugs without stifleling innovation and restricting patients access. H. R. 19 the lower cost more cures act is the bipartisan solution that can be signed into law this year and immediately begin to provide relief to parets and seniors from high prescription costs. This bill lowers out of pocket spending and has no medicines and cures and champions competition. Every single proposal in this substitute is bipartisan. Democrats and republicans coming together. H. R. 19 encourages innovation and groundbreaking new cures and promotes low cost and generic to the marketplace faster through inclusion of the creates and opping the pay for delay gamesmanship. These policies passed the energy and commerce earlier this year and would have put on this floor. H. R. 19 has a critical provision to make insulin more affordable by requiring Insurance Companies to cap the cost of insulin for seniors at 50 and removes uncertainty at the pharmacy counter by requiring Insurance Companies to make information in the Doctors Office. It reduces the cost of Drug Administration including for cancer treatment. We can cut that in half. Pay for quality. H. R. 19 places a cap on seniors out of pocket costs for the year. And stops the u. S. From subsidizing other free loader Foreign Countries by having a strong trade rep to negotiate better trade deals. This will lower costs and will bring about cures. And i resevere the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. Jop the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . I rise in opposition. I made a promise to my constituents when i was elected that i would lower drug prices and that requires a strong robust plan for negotiating fair prices for americans. Senator portman our constituents are demand and this amendment fails to deliver. It does nothing to address the root causes of high drug prices and let pharmaceutical companies to raise prices for the same drug. I have a bill to stop that, the freedom from price gouging act recovers taxpayer dollars from pharmaceutical companies when hey try to hike their prices multiple times. And this legislation has bipartisan support. It is included in senator grassleys drug pricing package. Without a way to hold drug price increases to at most the rate of inflation, Drug Companies can just counter your amendments required discounts of jacking up drug prices. And they can continue to raise those prices year after year and the American People will have no choice. Without a way to truly hold Drug Companies accountable, nothing will change. I believe we need real substantive reforms and for a while so did our president even though he recently walked this become, he promised that he would authorize the h. H. S. Secretary to negotiate drug prices. Drug price negotiation only upsets big pharma c. E. O. s. Everybody else, 90 of americans support giving the secretary the power to negotiate prices for drugs, democrats, republicans and independents alike. H. R. 3 has real reforms on icing with a Medicare Part d redesign. D more et equitably shares prices in the government plans and drug manufacturers. Your amendment fails to achieve this goal. This amendment doesnt help the 150 million americans with employer insurance and many of those americans, even with good insurance still cant afford their medications. This amendment will gut protections in h. R. 3 and leave us with legislation that doesnt do nearly enough to bring in the costs of Prescription Drugs. Its time for us to take real action to lower drug prices for our constituents. The chair the gentlewoman reserves. R. Walden i am now honored to yield to mr. Brady for a minute and a half. Mr. Brady mr. Chairman, chairman walden thank you for your strong leadership on this. It has been invaluable. Like impeachment, speaker pelosis few cures bill was written in secret and highly part sap and dead when it goes to the senate. The president wont sign it. Heres an idea. Lets pass a bill and come together, the only bill that has bipartisan provisions and bicameral provisions, a bill that has lower prices, a bill we can be proud of. Lower cost more cures act it doesnt kill cures but accelerates them and makes it easier for patients to use their personal Health Insurance plans to lower costs for medicine and hold pharma accountable and pulls back the curtain and forcing the companies to justify their prices and help seniors lower their medicine costs. Every member of congress who pledged to deliver lower costs for families and seniors and who truly want more cures for diseases will fulfill that promise in h. R. 19. I urge support. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. I gee with my republican colleagues ta we need action on drug pricing. Negotiating is common delens. The amendment to this bill is not bipartisan. Only republicans have cosponsored this amendment. Mr. Walden thats true on the bipartisan. But every provision in here in the bill has democrat support either as individual bills in other sectors. We brought only bipartisan bills into this alternative. I yield back. The gentleman is correct there are many provisions in the amendment that do have strong ipartisan support including, the medical tax deduction. The problem with the amendment it doesnt tackle the fundamental problem which is reducing drug prices. And doesnt solve the main problem of lowering drug prices. Senator grassley has been a sponsor on the republican side on the things that i worked on that would address price gouging, the ability of pharmaceutical companies to raise prices multiple times in a single year. And the g. A. O. Found that fewer than one in five new drugs are truly innovative. Is true we need cures for alzheimers and a. L. S. , h. R. 3 increases finance in research but the cures can be affordable and get into the hands of americans. I reserve. The chair the gentleman from oregon is recognized. Mr. Walden before i recognize the gentlelady from North Carolina, the c. B. O. Said 38 new cures will never come about. And council of economic advise i. R. S. Said 100 will never come about. The underlying bill you want to put into law denies people who are hoping for cures for innovation and 138 different democrats sponsors of the bill that we have put together here. I now recognize the gentlelady from North Carolina the chair the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. For how long . Mr. Walden one minute. Ms. Foxx thank you Ranking Member walden. Democrats are putting politics over progress by advancing a socialist drug pricing scheme that will hurt the development of moneysaving treatments and peoples lives. Workers and families are being let down by democrats. Thats why im proud to sponsor and support h. R. 19 the lower costs, more cures act. This legislation includes 40 provisions backed by democrats and republicans and it can go to the president s desk today. Unlike h. R. 3 which the nonpartisan congressional Budget Office present digits there will be