Statement on House Passage of HR 3 from UAW President Rory Gamble

UAW Commends Passage of Drug Bill to Lower Prescription Costs

Today, the UAW commended the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for passing the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (HR 3). This is a good day for our country, and it is long overdue.

We proudly support HR 3 as it would lower the price of many high cost drugs, including insulin, which has nearly doubled in price from 2012-2016 despite being on the market for almost 100 years.

UAW members, retirees and families are deeply concerned about the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs and the devastating impact it has on people across the country. Bold policy solutions like HR 3 are sorely needed to drive down the cost of prescription drugs, which has become a national crisis in our nation. No one should fear going bankrupt or skip taking life-saving medicines because the costs are out of reach. It’s long past time our elected leaders put the interest of families and communities over powerful drug companies who are raking in billions in profits by gouging working families. The same families that help subsidize their research.

We urge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on HR 3 and HR 986, which protects tens of millions of people with pre-existing conditions who are at risk of losing coverage.