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Lawmakers and Advocates Join Protect Our Care to Discuss Once-in-a-Generation Health Care Reforms in Inflation Reduction Act

By August 15, 2022No Comments

This Week: U.S. Senator Bob Casey and U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell and Susie Lee Join  Events Across the Nation

Last Week: U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Darren Soto (D-FL-09), and Susan Wild (D–PA-07) Joined Protect Our Care for State Events

Washington DC — This week, Protect Our Care is hosting events across the nation with Members of Congress and health care advocates to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act, historic legislation that will lower prescription drug costs and health insurance premiums for millions of Americans. These measures will deliver long-overdue relief to working families and seniors, and it will address the deep racial inequities in our health care system. President Biden and the Democrats have been working tirelessly to pass meaningful health care reform in Congress, and now they have made history by bringing down costs for families across the country with the Inflation Reduction Act.

Last week, Protect Our Care also hosted events in five states along with two national events with Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05) and U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06) and U.S. Representatives Peter Welch (D-VT-AL) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) ahead of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in the House. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

NEW JERSEY
Rx Drug Cost Event with Congressman Bill Pascrell and Health Care Advocates

WHO:
Congressman Bill Pascrell
Laura Waddell, Health Care Program Director, New Jersey Citizen Action
Patrick Hall, Health care storyteller and business owner 

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHERE:
Register for the event here.

WHEN: Monday, August 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM ET

NEVADA 
Inflation Reduction Act Event with Congresswoman Susie Lee and Health Care Advocates

WHO:
Congresswoman Susie Lee

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHERE: TBD

WHEN: Monday, August 15, 2022 at 1:00 PM PT // 4:00 PM ET

PENNSYLVANIA
Inflation Reduction Act Press Event with Senator Bob Casey and Health Care Advocates

WHO:
U.S. Senator Bob Casey

WHAT: Press Conference

WHERE: Harrisburg, PA

WHEN: Thursday, August 18, 2022 at TBD

 

EVENTS LAST WEEK:

NATIONAL
On Friday, August 12, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05) and U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06) joined Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference ahead of the House vote on the Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation takes critical steps to lower health care premiums and prescription drug costs for the American people. Watch the event here

On Tuesday, August 9, U.S. Representatives Peter Welch (D-VT-AL) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) joined patient advocates and Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act’s critical measures to lower health care premiums and prescription drug costs for the American people. You can watch the event here

COLORADO
On Tuesday, August 9, Protect Our Care Colorado joined Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper to celebrate Senate passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.  Bennet and Hickenlooper secured critical resources and provisions in the historic legislation to lower health care and prescription drug costs, tackle climate change, reduce the U.S. deficit, and help fight inflation for hard-working Coloradans. You can watch the event here.

Coverage: 

  • Colorado Public Radio: Bennet, Hickenlooper help pass Democrat’s climate, health and tax bill
  • The Denver Channel: Democrats laud coming impact Inflation Reduction Act will have on Colorado 
  • Real Vail: Senate passes IRA with largest ever investment in climate rescue infrastructure
  • Colorado Times Recorder: Colorado Democrats, environmental groups cheer Senate passage of ‘historic’ climate bill
  • AccessWire: Colorado VNA receives 2.3 million grant to expand CAPABLE program Denver Post: Colorado’s U.S. Senate candidates spar over $433 billion climate bill 
  • Axios: Colorado is a battleground for how to frame new bill

NEW HAMPSHIRE
On Tuesday, August 9, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) held a press conference at Amoskeag Health with local health care advocates, medical professionals and area residents impacted by pharmaceutical costs to celebrate the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act last weekend by the U.S. Senate. “This bill will help bring down the cost of prescription drugs for not just Medicare patients, but consumers across the board by putting pressure on Big Pharma to lower their prices,” said Senator Hassan. 

Coverage:

  • Manchester Ink Link: Hassan joins local advocates in touting Inflation Reduction Act’s passage

FLORIDA
On Wednesday, August 10, U.S. Representative Darren Soto (D-FL-09) joined Protect Our Care Florida to discuss Congress passing the Inflation Reduction Act, historic legislation that will lower prescription drug costs and health insurance premiums for millions of Americans. “The advance premium tax credit appears to be saved and extended for three years– to 2025– under the Inflation Reduction Act. This is a huge win for Florida that is imminent,” said Congressman Darren Soto. “It means brighter days are ahead. Lower costs. Better healthcare. And a brighter future.” You can watch the event here

Coverage: 

NEW JERSEY
On Thursday, August 11,  Protect Our Care joined Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) at a press conference in Woodbridge with local elected leaders and health care advocates on the Inflation Reduction Act.“The Inflation Reduction Act is one of the most significant pieces of health care legislation to move through Congress in over a decade. It finally breaks Big Pharma’s monopoly on prescription drug prices. No one should have to choose between paying for life saving medications or food and rent,” said Rep. Pallone. “Importantly, it will help ensure seniors are no longer ripped off at the pharmacy counter by capping both their annual out-of-pocket drug spending as well as how much they can be charged for insulin. It also penalizes Big Pharma companies for unfairly hiking prices on seniors.” You can watch the event here.

Coverage:

PENNSYLVANIA
On Thursday, August 11, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA-07) joined Protect Our Care Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Health Access Network, For Our Future PA, and Family Friendly Pennsylvania to emphasize the need for Congress to lower prescription drug costs by passing the Inflation Reduction Act. Rep. Wild has been a national leader on this issue both in the House and in pressuring the Senate to take action. Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act will allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time in history, limit onerous price hikes, and cap seniors’ drug costs. These actions are vital to fixing the broken system that all too often forces patients to choose between paying the bills and affording the drugs they need. You can watch the event here.

Coverage: