March 21, 2022

Senior GOP Sen. Grassley Tells Democrats to Pass Drug Price Legislation Now

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) acknowledged during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Wednesday that it would be difficult to pass legislation lowering drug prices if his own party regains control of Congress following the 2022 midterm elections. He then called on Democrats to pass it now.

Grassley made the admission while speaking to Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), saying, “I think you suggested the difficulty of passing something like this in a Republican Congress, so you got an opportunity to do it right now, when Democrats and Republicans can work together to accomplish this. If we want to reduce drug prices, then we need to do it now.”

Democrats’ most recent attempts to lower skyrocketing drug costs, including allowing Medicare to negotiate prices, stalled in December, leading to current attempts to try again.

“Seniors agree with Senator Grassley’s conclusion that now is the time to pass legislation to lower drug prices,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “His statement is also a warning: if the GOP regains control of the House or Senate, older Americans will have to pay even more for the drugs they need to stay healthy.”