[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H3988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REFORM THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

  (Mr. CICILLINE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to affordable healthcare 
and prescription drugs, President Trump and the Republicans are forcing 
the American people to swallow a raw deal.
  They have voted to dismantle protections for preexisting conditions. 
They have voted to raise out-of-pocket expenses. They have voted to 
take away health coverage from 23 million Americans. And they gave 
billions of dollars in tax breaks to pharmaceutical companies and other 
healthcare organizations. Last week, President Trump outlined his plan 
to further line the pockets of big drug companies and their CEOs.
  Democrats have A Better Deal. Our plan will fundamentally reform the 
pharmaceutical industry, will put government on the side of consumers 
and middle class families--not giant corporations--by cracking down on 
outrageous prescription drug price increases, allowing Medicare to 
negotiate lower prices for drugs, and requiring drug manufacturers to 
publicly release hard data justifying any significant price increase.
  This is the kind of deal the American people deserve: A Better Deal 
that will produce higher wages, lower costs, and the tools to succeed 
in the 21st century--not the raw deal that the President and the 
Republicans are offering on prescription drugs.

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