Rep. Burgess Introduces Legislation to Tackle Drug Prices and Extend Vital Public Health Programs

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release:

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Republican Leader of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, introduced H.R. 2700, which includes commonsense measures to lower drug prices and extend funding for critical, bipartisan public health priorities, including community health centers, the national health service corps, and the special diabetes programs - all of which are set to expire at the end of September 2019.

"This legislation includes commonsense, bipartisan measures to lower drug prices for the American people - policies that have passed unanimously out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Combined, these drug policies save nearly $5 billion dollars, but House Democrats have decided to use those savings to pay for political efforts to stabilize Obamacare that will be dead on arrival should they reach the Senate.

"It is disappointing, but not surprising, that House Democrats continue to commandeer bipartisan policy to meet their own political ends, instead of reauthorizing important public health programs upon which our constituents rely. While Democrats say that lowering drug prices and promoting public health programs are priorities, their actions tell a different story. Instead of continuing to play politics with our health care, I encourage all Members to support this legislation that can deliver lower drug prices and access to quality health care for the American people."

H.R. 2700 has nearly 30 original co-sponsors, including each Republican Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. The full text is available here (https://burgess.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hr_2700.pdf).