Congressman DeSaulnier Passes Effort to Uncover Price Gouging as Part of Democrats’ Signature Prescription Drug Bill

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) passed an effort to shed light on pharmaceutical companies that use federal funding to research drug development for profit. It was included in the MORE Health Education Act (H.R. 987), the Democrats' signature prescription drug bill to bring down drug prices for Americans, which passed the U.S. House by a vote of 234-to-183.

"Americans pay more for prescription drugs than people in most other high-income countries, despite many of these same drugs being developed with seed money and research from the federal government," said Congressman DeSaulnier. "For too long, companies have taken this funding but their profit margins have been shrouded in secrecy. It is immoral for companies to prey on the desperation of sick people. This simple study on how companies use taxpayer dollars to develop drugs will help us better understand how much money companies are making off taxpayer investment. It is a first step towards holding companies accountable and slashing prescription drug prices."