Statement from Margarida Jorge, campaign director for Lower Drug Prices Now, on Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff’s swearing into the Senate: 

History was made in more ways than one today. Raphael Warnock became the first Black Senator and Jon Ossoff the first Jewish Senator to represent the state of Georgia in Washington, DC.

On and off the campaign trail, Reverend Warnock and Jon Ossoff spoke frequently and decidedly on the importance of access for all Georgians to affordable and high-quality healthcare. In return, Georgia’s voters turned out in unprecedented numbers to spearhead their historic victories and now are watching to see how their newly elected leaders will deliver on promises to protect and expand healthcare and lower prescription drug prices.

Rising prescription drug prices, a key issue in Georgia and in Arizona Senate races that helped Democrats gain a majority in the U.S. Senate, are a top concern for Americans who have endured decades of price-gouging on everything from insulin to arthritis medicines. Despite reaching a new record on casualties just this week and increasing numbers of people facing nation-wide economic hardship during this pandemic, drug companies still increased the prices on hundreds of medicines this month.

Voters of both parties in Georgia and across the nation support long-overdue reforms that would stop drug corporations from raising prices anytime they want by requiring negotiations over prices in Medicare Part D, increasing transparency, and setting reasonable prices for medicines created with taxpayer funding including COVID vaccines and treatments.

Now, it’s time for Congress to deliver. Senator Warnock and Ossoff’s success in Georgia proves that when candidates campaign on lowering drug costs, they can win a seat in Congress. Whether or not they stay there depends on delivering real reforms that lower drug prices for their constituents.