[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 79 (Monday, May 12, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, on drug pricing, a few hours ago, 
Donald Trump signed a new Executive order he claims will ``almost 
immediately'' bring down the costs of prescription drugs. Americans 
should hold their applause because Donald Trump's announcement is 
little more than a photo op masquerading at reform, just as he said he 
would bring down costs on day one, and it didn't happen--the same thing 
here. ``Almost immediately''? Give me a break.
  In case Donald Trump has forgotten, this announcement is like what he 
already tried to do in 2020, with little success. So Americans are 
right to be skeptical until they actually see their prescription drug 
costs go down more.
  Donald Trump can say he is doing an Executive order, but we all know 
the odds are overwhelming that that Executive order will fail.
  The real way to make drug price reform happen is to do what Democrats 
do and what Donald Trump is loath to do: Roll up your sleeves and do 
the hard work of passing legislation. That is what we did. That is why 
insulin is $35 for senior citizens. That is why 20 of the most widely 
used drugs' prices have plummeted, because we negotiated with Medicare. 
That is why no family pays more than $2,000 total for all their 
prescription drugs. We worked hard, we legislated, and we got prices 
down.

  Donald Trump does a photo op, says it is going to come down 
immediately, but, obviously, this is a half-baked political stunt that 
is unlikely to bring any meaningful change.
  Today's announcement is so typical of Donald Trump's Presidency: He 
promises a golden age, but, in reality, Americans get fool's gold.

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