Thursday: Rally for Congressional Action to Lower Prescription Drug Prices
Rally Will Follow Congressional Progressive Caucus Forum to Which Pharma CEOs Have Been Invited
WHAT: Rally on Capitol Hill to demand that lawmakers pass legislation to make medicine affordable. The rally will be held after a forum on the outrageous prices of prescription drugs organized by the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which has invited six pharma corporation CEOs to participate. Speaking at the forum will be advocates from a variety of organizations including Public Citizen.
The events come as congressional leaders debate legislation, much of which Public Citizen maintains is too weak to make a real difference in people’s lives. Many people can’t afford their medications, while others skip doses or cut pills in half to make their medications last longer. The question to determine the effectiveness of legislation is: Will it make medicines affordable? Bills passing this test include the Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act, the soon-to-be-introduced PRICED Act and the Stop Price Gouging Act.
“Change is within reach, but not if congressional leaders believe they have more reason to listen to the pharmaceutical industry than to the people,” said Peter Maybarduk, director of Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines program. “We know that Americans are behind us in demanding that lawmakers stop listening to pharma lobbyists and start listening to their constituents.”
WHO:
Forum: Lawmakers and advocates, including Steve Knievel, advocate for Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines program
Rally: Representatives from Public Citizen, Social Security Works, Center for Popular Democracy and Health Care for America Now!
WHEN:
Forum: 10:30 a.m. EDT Thursday, June 20
Rally: 12:15 p.m. EDT, Thursday, June 20
WHERE: Forum: Room 210 of the Cannon House Office Building
Rally: The lawn northeast of the Capitol Building, between Constitution Avenue NE and the Senate Swamp.