U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders plans to deliver a live, online address Tuesday night arguing that “we must end the greed of Big Pharma.”
The speech—scheduled for 8:00 pm ET at live.berniesanders.com—comes as Sanders (I-Vt.) and other progressives in Congress are fighting for a Build Back Better package that allows Medicare to negotiate with the pharmaceutical industry for lower prescription drug prices and expands the federal healthcare program to cover dental, hearing, and vision services.
“Why is it that the pharmaceutical industry is able to charge the American people the highest prices on the planet for prescription drugs? Because their greed goes unchallenged in Washington, D.C.,” Sanders said in a tweet promoting the event. “I say we put an end to that.”
Earlier Tuesday, as Common Dreams reported, Sanders told journalists on Capitol Hill that the “bottom line” is the package must include Medicare expansion and drug pricing reforms. Progressive lawmakers are battling efforts by right-wing Democrats and corporate lobbyists to water down the sweeping legislation.
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