Cummings Leads 50 House Members in Urging President Trump to Negotiate Lower Prices for Lifesaving Drug

Sep 19, 2017
Press Release

Cummings Leads 50 House Members in

Urging President Trump to Negotiate

Lower Prices for Lifesaving Drug

 

Washington, D.C. (Sept. 19, 2017)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led 50 Members of the House of Representatives in sending a letter urging President Donald Trump to negotiate lower prices for naloxone—a lifesaving drug used by first responders across the country use to help reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.

“We are writing to strongly urge you to follow the new recommendations of your own Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis not only by declaring the opioid epidemic a national emergency—which it clearly is—but also by immediately negotiating lower prices to get the lifesaving drug naloxone into the hands of law enforcement and first responders across the country,” the Members wrote.

According to the Commission’s interim report, one of its key recommendations was this:  “We urge you to mandate, with federal assistance, that naloxone be in the hands of every law enforcement officer in the United States.”  The Commission also urged the President to “empower the HHS Secretary to negotiate reduced pricing for all government units.”

When President Trump established his Commission on March 29, he stated:  “I made a promise to the American people to take action.”  Referring to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is Chairing the Commission, President Trump stated:  “He will work with people on both sides of the aisle to find the best ways for the Federal Government to treat and protect the American people from this serious problem.  This is an epidemic that knows no boundaries and shows no mercy, and we will show great compassion and resolve as we work together on this important issue.”

“The price of this drug—which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1971—has skyrocketed in recent years,” the Members wrote today.  “Although state and local purchasers have been able to secure some discounts for naloxone, high prices are forcing these entities to severely ration their supplies.”

“We believe your Commission’s recommendations are both sound and critically urgent,” the Members wrote.  “At this moment, you have the ability to take immediate action to implement these recommendations and make good on your promise to help save the lives of many Americans affected by this national emergency.”

Click here to read today’s letter, which is signed by the following Members:

 

  • Karen Bass
  • Joyce Beatty
  • Anthony Brown
  • Matt Cartwright
  • David N. Cicilline
  • Katherine Clark
  • Wm. Lacy Clay
  • Steve Cohen
  • Gerry Connolly
  • John Conyers, Jr.
  • Jim Cooper
  • Elijah E. Cummings
  • Peter A. DeFazio
  • John Delaney
  • Val B. Demings
  • Mark DeSaulnier
  • Lloyd Doggett
  • Keith Ellison
  • Dwight Evans
  • Marcia L. Fudge
  • Jimmy Gomez
  • Vicente Gonzalez
  • Raul M. Grijalva
  • Alcee L. Hastings
  • Sheila Jackson Lee
  • Pramila Jayapal
  • Hank Johnson
  • Marcy Kaptur
  • Raja Krishnamoorthi
  • Rick Larsen
  • Brenda L. Lawrence
  • Barbara Lee
  • Michelle Lujan Grisham
  • Stephen F. Lynch
  • Carolyn B. Maloney
  • A. Donald McEachin
  • Eleanor Holmes Norton
  • Collin C. Peterson
  • Mark Pocan
  • Jamie Raskin
  • Jacky Rosen
  • C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger
  • Bobby Rush
  • Tim Ryan
  • John Sarbanes
  • Jan Schakowsky
  • Robert C. “Bobby” Scott
  • José E. Serrano
  • Darren Soto
  • Peter Welch
  • John Yarmuth

 

115th Congress