WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) former chairman and
senior member of the Senate Finance Committee remains committed to advancing
bipartisan reforms to lower prescription drug costs while saving taxpayer
dollars. Despite months of Democrat’s
intra-party debate on partisan proposals to reform drug pricing, the Biden
administration’s multi-trillion-dollar social spending framework omitted any
such reform. Grassley made the following statement today:
“Over the past several months, I have met with Democrats
and Republicans to discuss the prescription drug reform proposal that I
negotiated and advanced with Senator Wyden through the Finance Committee with
broad bipartisan support last Congress. Democrats and Republicans have
expressed eagerness to find a solution on drug pricing that can pass Congress
on a bipartisan basis.”
“Despite their best efforts, Democrats were not
able to reach a consensus amongst themselves on their partisan push to address
drug pricing reforms that patients need and taxpayers deserve. I’m committed to
passing my bipartisan and negotiated Prescription
Drug Pricing Reduction Act (PDPRA) as a standalone bill. My bill will lower
costs for seniors saving $72 billion, save taxpayers $95 billion, and is the
only comprehensive prescription drug bill that can pass the U.S. Senate with
more than 60 votes.”
Throughout 2021, Grassley has spoken about his
bipartisan efforts to lower prescription drugs costs with President Biden,
Speaker Pelosi, Health & Human Services Secretary Becerra, Problem Solvers
Caucus Health Care Working Group, rank-and-file Members of Congress, and White
House staff. In 2019, PDPRA passed the Senate Finance Committee under the
leadership of then Chairman Grassley on a bipartisan vote, 19 to 9. As
chairman, Senator Grassley held three hearings on lowering the cost of
prescription drug prices, a bill mark-up, and conducted numerous bipartisan
meetings to advance the bipartisan deal. You can find additional details
about PDPRA
here.
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