State Health Care Premium Reduction Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, thanks to my chairman in exile.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1425, the slow coronavirus cures act.

There are many problematic provisions in this bill, but, ultimately, it is yet another political ploy that will not be considered in the Senate or become law, and we don't want it to be because it is not good.

This bill is a step toward nationalizing the drug industry and opening the door to one-size-fits-all, government-controlled rationing of prescription drugs.

Governments don't negotiate; they dictate.

The radical approach taken by H.R. 1425 includes troubling and unprecedented government interference in private, market negotiations, which will eliminate choice and competition and jeopardizes innovation and access to future cures.

Countries that have adopted drug pricing systems like the one proposed in this bill face decreased access to innovative new medicines, increased wait times for treatment, and supply shortages for in-demand drugs. The bill will negatively impact investment and research and development of future treatments, putting breakthrough cures for diseases like Alzheimer's, cancer, and sickle cell disease at risk.

At a time when we have the best minds urgently working on a vaccine for COVID-19, why would we want to slow down the development of lifesaving medications? Congress should be putting in place policies to incentivize difficult research and development for these rare and devastating diseases, not discouraging it.

I stand ready to work with my Democrat colleagues and advance bipartisan legislation that would lower healthcare and drug costs without sacrificing innovation.

But that is not the bill before us today. Sadly, like last week's police reform bill, the majority is once again focused on messaging, not legislating, and that is too bad.

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