WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, March 5 at 1pm, the Lower Drug Prices Now (LDPN) coalition, representing millions of Americans angered by Big Pharma’s price-gouging, will join Sen. Chris Van Hollen, and Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Lloyd Doggett in demanding that President Trump and Secretary Azar guarantee that any coronavirus treatment or vaccine developed with taxpayer dollars be affordable for all.
The Lower Drug Prices Now coalition advocates for comprehensive drug pricing reform that prioritizes public health ahead of corporate profit particularly when it comes to medicines funded by taxpayer research. Over $700 million in public funds have already been invested in a coronavirus vaccine, but the medicine may not be affordable if the Trump Administration grants any company a monopoly patent to set prices on the vaccine.
Dozens of lawmakers have called on the Trump Administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, a former drug executive, to ensure any federally-funded treatment or vaccine will be affordable to everyone. But Republican lawmakers are now blocking any attempt to include price controls in emergency coronavirus response legislation, delaying critical funding as the pandemic spreads.
WHAT: Press Conference Calling on the Trump Administration to Ensure Access and Affordability of Coronavirus Treatment and Vaccines, Stand Up to Pharma
WHO:
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Yasmin Canales, cystic fibrosis patient, member Little Lobbyists
Josephine Ball, Maryland Registered Nurse, retired AFSCME member
Rob Weissman, President, Public Citizen
WHEN: Thursday, March 5, 2020 at 1pm
WHERE: House Triangle
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Who We Are: A national coalition of nearly sixty social, racial and economic justice organizations with members in all fifty states, Lower Drug Prices Now is committed to transformative, systemic and bold reforms to ensure everyone has access to affordable medicines — no matter where they live, what they look like or how much money they have.
Our Partners: Lower Drug Prices Now brings together a broad array of state and national partners to fight for transformative policy change that will finally ensure everyone has access to affordable medicine whether they have a sore throat, high blood pressure or an acute illness like cancer. Our national coalition includes: Action Center on Race and the Economy, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of State, Country, Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of Teachers, American Medical Student Association (AMSA), Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Popular Democracy (CPD), Color of Change, Faith in Public Life Action, Families USA, Health Care for America Now (HCAN), Health Care Voter Affordable Insulin Now, HousingWorks, Indivisible, Main Street Alliance, MomsRising.org, MoveOn.org, Network Lobby, Other 98%, Oxfam, People’s Action, Public Citizen, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Social Security Works, UNIDOS US Action Fund, United Auto Workers (UAW). United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
