The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act that could lower prescription drug costs and health insurance premiums was called one of the “most significant acts” every passed by Congress by a supporter, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson).
“In one fell swoop we made the largest investment in fighting climate change ever, brought down inflation, increased tax fairness, and reduced prescription drug prices for millions of Americans,” Pascrell said during a press conference on Monday sponsored by Protect Our Care.
Pascrell said the bill was a triumph for Americans struggling to pay for life-saving medication.
“We cannot live in a society where it’s going to depend upon how much money you have in your pocket if you live for not,” said Pascrell. “We don’t want that. That’s not us.”
And Pascrell slammed Republicans for opposing the measure., which caps our out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors at $2,000 annually and limits the cost of insulin.
“It is damning beyond all comprehension that not a single Republican in all of Congress voted for this,” Pascrell stated. “Yet, with or without them, we will continue to create lasting change for the American people.”
The North Jersey Democrat, who said health care costs have been a top concern of his constituents since he first ran for Congress in 1996, thinks fixing health care will take time.
“It’s Congress,” Pascrell said. “There’s 435 of us going in different directions, regardless of what party they belong to.”
Laura Waddell, who runs the health care program at New Jersey Citizen Action, said that one in five adults in the state report cutting bills in half or skip doses as part of a rationing of prescription drugs.
“By allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with drugmakers, the Inflation Reduction Act will bring badly needed relief to families everywhere so they don’t have to choose between their health or putting food on the table,” Waddell said.