DES MOINES — On December 12, Rep. Cindy Axne and Rep. Abby Finkenauer voted in support of the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3): historic legislation that will drastically reduce Americans’ prescription drug prices by up to 55% and save taxpayers nearly $500 billion over the next 10 years that passed the House of Representatives today. H.R. 3 includes the most comprehensive drug pricing reform in American history and the largest expansion to Medicare’s vision, dental and hearing benefits in decades.
In response to its passage, Matt Sinovic, the director of Progress Iowa and Protect Our Care Iowa released the following statement:
“With the passage of this historic legislation, House Democrats, including Rep. Cindy Axne and Rep. Abby Finkenauer, have followed through on their promise to lower prescription drug costs and rein in Big Pharma. By giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower prices — the single most effective way to lower drug costs — and holding drug companies accountable for creating a rigged system, this landmark bill will lower prescription drug costs for seniors and families nationwide.
“Now it’s time for Senate Republicans, like Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, to decide if they want to keep defending Big Pharma or put the health and well-being of Iowans first.”
During their remarks from the floor of the House of Representatives, Axne and Finkenauer shared the stories of Iowans who need much needed relief from the extremely high cost of prescription drugs. Across the state of Iowa today, Iowans spoke out in song, rewriting Christmas Carols at events in Des Moines, Waterloo, and Cedar Rapids to call on their Senators to support this legislation. And on a statewide press call, Finkenauer spoke with Iowans who have personally experienced all too high prescription drug costs.
