Pascrell Touts $35 Insulin for Millions

House Democrats vote for a second time to lower life-saving insulin costs; 94% of Republican vote no

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today spoke in strong support of H.R. 6833, the Affordable Insulin Now Act on the floor of the House. This watershed bill will lower the price of insulin to $35 for Medicare beneficiaries and holders of private insurance. The landmark reform passed the House 232-to-193, with all Democrats voting in favor and 94 percent of Republican voting no.

“The Affordable Insulin Now Act will limit out-of-pocket insulin costs to $35 per month for millions,” said Rep. Pascrell. “Over seven million Americans use insulin to stay alive. But the average insulin costs rose 54 percent from 2014 to 2019. When insulin was discovered, Warren Harding was the President and the New York Giants won the World Series. We didn’t even have television. For a drug discovered over 100 years ago, a $1,000 price tag for a single vial of insulin is a national disgrace. This bill will lower costs. It will save lives. If we can’t improve the lives of millions, why the hell are we here?”

This is the second time in the House has voted in the 117th Congress to cap the price of insulin at $35 for millions of Americans. On November 19, 2021, the Build Back Better Act passed by the House included this insulin reform. Every single House Republican then voted against lowering the price of insulin, and Senate Republicans have united to block the reform for the last 132 days.

###