National Hispanic Heritage Month
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�As we all know, prices for prescription drugs are skyrocketing, and as a result, hard-working families have been suffering. In each of the last few years, drug prices have soared by more than 10 percent. In the last year alone, prices for the 50 drugs most often prescribed to the elderly outpaced inflation by a factor of nearly three. Over the same time, the big drug makers earned more than $37 billion in total sales.
"Two months ago, House Republicans passed up an opportunity to pass a real prescription drug benefit and instead passed a prescription drug bill written by the special interests, a bill that offers little help for America's senior citizens. Immediately afterward, these same drug companies financed an ad blitz that praised Republican members who voted for the drug industry-driven legislation. The drug lobby is today seeking to perpetrate a fraud, telling people that their sham bill will bring a real prescription drug benefit into their lives.
"Today, the House has a chance to take a simple step that will cut drug prices for us all by passing the bipartisan, prescription competition bill that cleared the Senate, 78-21. This bill will close a loophole drug makers use to extend their patents, inflate their prices and gouge America's consumers. This one bill will save consumers $60 billion over 10 years, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. Unfortunately, the drug lobby is already at work to kill this legislative effort.
"I urge the House GOP leadership to do the right thing for families that every day are being forced to choose between food and rent and medicine. Bring this legislation to the House floor for debate and votes. For the sake of every hard-working health-care consumer in our country, the House should follow the Senate's lead, and join together on a bipartisan bill that will make a crucial difference in people's lives."
House Democrats: Cutting the Price of Prescription Drugs
Leader Gephardt's website unveiled a new 30-second informational Flash movie on House Democrats� fight to cut the price of prescription drugs.
Click here
to watch it (requires Flash Player).
Leader Gephardt also unveiled a special section on his website in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the contributions of Hispanic Americans to our nation. The section features a statement by Leader Gephardt on Hispanic Heritage Month, a brief history of Hispanic Heritage Month and profiles of outstanding Hispanic Americans in the arts, science and technology, as well as those who have served Congress.
The section, which will remain on the site through October 15, also offers useful links to information about the Hispanic community and information on immigration reform efforts taken over the past year.
The section, which will remain on the site through October 15, also offers useful links to information about the Hispanic community and information on immigration reform efforts taken over the past year.
Click here
to access the section in both English, or
click here
for the Spanish version.
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