Statement from Margarida Jorge, head of Lower Drug Prices Now – the leading campaign fighting to lower prescription drug prices – in response to President Biden using his State of the Union Address to call on Congress to act to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices:

We are pleased that President Biden used his State of the Union Address to highlight the need to take action to lower the costs of prescription drugs. Our message to Democrats now is, get it done. Stop talking and start acting.

Americans have waited long enough for action. Drug prices increased faster than inflation for half of all drugs covered by Medicare in 2020. In 2022, drug corporations have already raised the price on over 800 prescription medicines by more than 5%.

It’s time for Democrats to do something about it. There are not many things that can get more than 218 votes in the House and 50 votes in the Senate right now, but Medicare negotiations to lower prescription costs is one of them. In fact, it’s the most popular measure in the package lawmakers have been discussing.

Lowering the price of prescription drugs has been overwhelmingly popular with the public for a while, and Democrats have been running on this issue for years. Victory is within their grasp. Reconciliation is a once in a generation opportunity to get this done. Democrats must not let this opportunity pass. The votes are there. Call the vote. Today.