[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 168 (Wednesday, October 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H8398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

  (Mr. RUIZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today because seniors in my district 
are walking out of the pharmacy without their medications after they 
look at the out-of-pocket price and say to themselves, ``I can't afford 
this.'' They are not taking the medications they need, which 
jeopardizes their lives, and this is unacceptable.
  It is their health--their very lives--that are on the line. That is 
why, when we are talking about prescription drugs, we must focus on 
lowering the out-of-pocket costs for seniors.
  That is why I support H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, because 
it requires Medicare to negotiate drug prices so that my constituents 
can get a fair and affordable price for their medication. It also caps 
the annual out-of-pocket costs for those seniors who require many 
medications or expensive medication.
  No one should have to choose between buying groceries to eat or 
getting medications they need, and H.R. 3 will lower costs so seniors 
don't have to make that decision.

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