The committee on health, education, labor and pensions will come to order. Senator murray has an important meeting right now and she has asked me to proceed with the hearing because we have six excellent witnesses and we want to make sure that we hear from each of you, and we want the senators to have a chance to ask questions of each of you. So patty should arrive about 10 00. When she comes, why, well interrupt and let her make her Opening Statement and then we will resume the hearing. Good morning, senator murphy. Nearly a year ago dr. Brent james from the National Academies testified before our Senate Health committee with a startling statistic. Up to onehalf of what the American People spend on Health Care May be unnecessary. Let me repeat that. Up to half of the 3. 5 trillion the United States collectively spent on health care in 2017 was unnecessary according to dr. James, and many of the other witnesses at our hearings agreed with that. Thats 1. 8 trillion, three times as much
This first portion is just under three hours. The Senate Committee on health education, labor, and pensions will come to order. Today is a busy day. Very important votes will be taking place. Democrats will be meeting in their caucuses, so people are going to be coming in and out. I also think that this hearing is important enough that we extend the time for questioning from the usual five minutes to seven minutes. Let me begin by welcoming the ceos of bristolmyers, chris verner, we thank you for being here. The ceo of merck, and the ceo of johnson and johnson for being with us this morning. Thank you very much. There is a lot of discussion in our nation about how divided our people are on many issues and that is absolutely true, but on one of the most important issues facing our country, the American People, whether they are democrats, republicans, independents, conservatives, progressives, could not be more united, and that is the need to substantially lower the outrageous prices of
Not that that it was a ut happened in milwaukee is still progressing to this day, still thriving to this day, and landed back in, beautiful words. That was the outcome there. There may be people im sure there are people will break away briefly from this program to keep our over 40 your commitment to covering congress to retake your life now to the floor of the u. S. Senate where lawmakers are holding what we believe will be a brief session today. No votes are expected. The appropriation for the department of health and Human Services. The food and Drug Administration is an agriculture appropriations bill ive never been quite been times. Will do the American History to tv. If theres not some resolution either continuing resolution maybe they come to some kind of a deal on these spending bills thin piece of the department of health and Human Services will cease to function until they figure out how to find them here the department of health and Human Services is one of the departments wh
Need to be ready for anything. Comcast supports cspan as a Public Service along with these other Television Providers giving you a front row seat to democracy. , cup, the joint Economic Committees testimony on Economic Impact of diabetes. During the hearing, medical experts and policy advocates addressed the rise in diabetes diagnosis, the need for increased access to healthcare and the link between diabetes and obesity. Witnesses also outlined the federal governments role in combating diabetes. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] shall be give this hearing a start . For this joint economic hearing i actually have 2 give senator heinrich and the entire team, democrat and republican staff, has been in discussion for quite a while. As we look at the Health Statistics of the nation, particularly diabetes, its cost to society not just in healthcare costs, but in so many of our brothers and sisters that just have misery. Where this partially came from is 2 or 3 years ago we
call inflation reduction act will not only lower cost for consumers but will not raise taxes on the middle class. republicans argue it will not help you alleviate inflation and it will take money out of people s pockets and hurt americans across a number of key sectors. chief congressional correspondent chad pergram is live on capitol hill and he has the latest for us. good evening, the senate waited all day but the past hour the senate got a text, the bill is 755 pages in length, democrat plans to pass the bill overnight. this is one of the most comprehensive impactful bills congress has seen in decades. it will reduce inflation, lower prescription drug costs, fight climate change, close tax loopholes and reduce the deficit. all gop members of postville, that s right democrats need all 50 of their members to vote yes. vice president harris could be needed to break a tie. republicans call the bill a farce. let s start with the bills title. inflation reduction act, it