Only a Bipartisan Prescription Drug Bill Can Become Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement after House Republican committee leaders introduced H.R. 19, The Lower Costs, More Cures Act, a bipartisan counterproposal to Speaker Pelosi's partisan drug pricing plan:

"Lowering prescription drug prices is a top priority for American families. While Republicans worked with Democrats to pass bipartisan prescription drug pricing bills unanimously out of committee, Speaker Pelosi has ignored this important work and will instead bring a partisan, radical, Democrat-only bill to the House floor.

"Americans deserve better. Speaker Pelosi's partisan plan attempts to dictate drug prices, but would prevent lifesaving cures from ever being developed or coming to market. The Council of Economic Advisers estimates that Speaker Pelosi's partisan plan would prevent as many as 100 new cures from coming to market and lower Americans' life expectancy by four months.

"Only one of these bills has the potential to become law. While Speaker Pelosi's partisan plan is dead on arrival in the Senate and won't be signed by President Trump, H.R. 19 could be on President Trump's desk today. Speaker Pelosi must come to her senses. I am calling on her to bring H.R. 19 to the House floor for a vote this week. Americans need a bipartisan solution to prescription drug prices, not another doomed proposal from the Democrats."