Kelly: Democrats Making Prescription Drug Policy about Politics, Not People

Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3, the so-called Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019. Representative Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) voted against the bill and issued the following statement:

"Congressional action to address the prescription drug affordability crisis should be about people, not politics. While Democrats may have scored a few cheap political points with their socialist base by passing H.R. 3, they did nothing to help Americans who increasingly struggle to afford their medications. This government price-fixing scheme would lead to the development of fewer new cures and reduce access to existing life-saving drugs. We should focus our efforts on policy that will work and can pass such as H.R. 19, a bipartisan alternative to H.R. 3 that won't threaten medical innovation."

Representative Kelly also spoke against H.R. 3 on the floor of the House during debate on the evening of December 11. Video below.

Background

If enacted, H.R. 3 would give the federal government unprecedented power to dictate the price of prescription drugs, which opponents of the legislation argue would destroy the incentive to invest in the discovery of new cures and limit access to existing life-saving medications.

H.R. 3 is a Democrat messaging bill, not a serious effort to bring relief to Americans.

• Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said months ago H.R. 3  is DOA in the Senate.
• President Trump would veto the bill if it were sent to his desk.
• Bipartisan solutions are available, but House Democrats will only consider H.R. 3.
• H.R. 3 is viewed as a political messaging tool.

Representative Kelly believes Americans deserve better than political games, particularly on issues as important as lowering prescription drug prices. He is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, a bipartisan package of proposals that has a realistic chance of becoming law with the support of House Democrats.

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