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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., issued the following statement on Wednesday on the agreements reached by the White House with the pharmaceutical and hospital industries:
"As the Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, I am dedicated to working with a number of health care policy leaders to draft a comprehensive health care reform bill that would provide access to quality and affordable health care for all Americans.
"In order to successfully reform our nation's health care system, it is critical that we as policy-makers work collaboratively with the key stakeholders who play such an important role in caring for America's patients.
"This collaboration will be an essential component of any successful effort. For that reason, I am encouraged by the Vice President's announcement that the hospital industry will offer $155 billion over 10 years toward the cost of insuring those Americans with inadequate or no health coverage.
"I am also encouraged by the biopharmaceutical industry's commitment last week of $80 billion in cost-savings which help to offset the costs of health care reform and will make prescription medicines more affordable.
"I am proud that the biopharmaceutical and hospital industry have chosen to play such an important part in supporting the effort to reform health care in the United States. These industry contributions will ensure that every American can attain and afford life-saving medicines and quality medical care. I particularly appreciate the work of the New Jersey biopharmaceutical companies for their leadership in producing this agreement, as well as their contribution to my home state’s workforce and economy.
"I applaud the hospital industry and the biopharmaceutical industry for their willingness to work with me and the Obama Administration on achieving meaningful health care reform and for offering these first real private-sector contributions to reforming America's health care system. I appreciate their leadership and look forward to working with the biopharmaceutical and hospital industries to find common ground as we draft health care legislation in the House."
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