Alongside President Biden, Senator Murray Pushes for Bold Action to Lower Child Care and Prescription Drug Costs

Senator Murray: “Helping people and solving problems—that’s our job, and we can help working families by putting money back in their pockets and taking a little stress off their shoulders.”

Senator Murray: “Life-saving medicine doesn’t save any lives if people can’t afford it.”

***VIDEO OF SENATOR MURRAY’S REMARKS HERE***

(Auburn, WA) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray joined President Biden at Green River Community College in Auburn to outline her efforts to lower everyday costs for Washington state families on child care and prescription drugs in particular. Ahead of President Biden’s visit, Senator Murray visited a local child care center in West Seattle yesterday and met with parents and providers.

“I’m especially glad President Biden is with us today so he can hear directly from Washington state families, and hear about why we have all got to be completely focused on lowering every day costs for working people—especially as families are seeing higher prices at the pump or the grocery store,” said Senator Murray. “Just yesterday, I met with parents and providers in Seattle to talk about the child care crisis—and, Mr. President, it is a crisis. Even before this pandemic, child care cost more than college tuition in Washington state—that’s outrageous. The reality is that when parents can’t work because of child care, that’s not just a problem for them—it’s one more position a small business can’t fill, it’s one less link in our supply chain moving things along, and ultimately, it’s one more strain on our economy as a whole.

“In the Senate, we are working to pass our child care plan that will: lower the cost of child care for working families by thousands of dollars per year, give parents more options so they can actually find child care where they live, and raise wages for child care workers—and this plan is all fully paid for just by making sure the very wealthiest pay their fair share,” continued Senator Murray. “Helping people and solving problems—that’s our job, and we can help working families by putting money back in their pockets and taking a little stress off their shoulders.”

Senator Murray made clear that she’s working hard to pass her child care plan through reconciliation and get it to the President’s desk to lower costs for families, bring up wages for workers, and give parents more child care options—all fully paid for by making the wealthiest pay their fair share. Senator Murray also stressed that her plan won’t just help families—it’ll help the entire economy, because when parents can’t work because they can’t get the child care they need, it also puts a strain on businesses across Washington state.

“I’ve heard from so many people from Seattle to Spokane who work hard, play by the rules, save their money—but still have to make impossible choices to afford the life-saving medicine they need,” said Senator Murray. “And that’s the thing—life-saving medicine doesn’t save any lives if people can’t afford it. So here’s where Congress and the President can step in. We are pushing for meaningful steps to: bring down drug costs, and crackdown on pharmaceutical companies that are driving prices up.”

“That means stopping companies from gaming the system and blocking cheaper generic drugs, finally giving Medicare power to negotiate lower prices, permanently capping insulin at $35 a month for patients, and extending relief we passed which is saving millions of patients thousands of dollars on their health premiums this year.”

Senator Murray is fighting to pass proposals that would lower costs for families by giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, cracking down on outrageous price increases, and capping seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs. Additionally, The Affordable Insulin Now Act, introduced by Senator Warnock and supported by Senator Murray, would cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month permanently.

Senator Murray’s full remarks are below, as prepared for delivery:

I’m so glad to be here at Green River Community College. As a former community college instructor, I know how important institutions like this are to helping people live up to their full potential—isn’t it great to have a First Lady in the White House who feels the same way?

And I’m especially glad President Biden is with us today so he can hear directly from Washington state families, and hear about why we have all got to be completely focused on lowering every day costs for working people—especially as families are seeing higher prices at the pump or the grocery store.

Just yesterday, I met with parents and providers in Seattle to talk about the child care crisis—and, Mr. President, it is a crisis. Even before this pandemic, child care cost more than college tuition in Washington state—that’s outrageous.

When families cannot find or afford the child care they need, it’s bad for kids, parents, workers, businesses—everyone. And I know it’s especially hard for moms—who’ve disproportionately left the workforce in order to take care of their kids.

The reality is that when parents can’t work because of child care, that’s not just a problem for them—it’s one more position a small business can’t fill, it’s one less link in our supply chain moving things along, and ultimately, it’s one more strain on our economy as a whole.

So President Biden I’m glad you’re in my corner fighting for child care—we have to fix it and we can.

In the Senate, we are working to pass our child care plan that will: lower the cost of child care for working families by thousands of dollars per year, give parents more options so they can actually find child care where they live, and raise wages for child care workers—and this plan is all fully paid for just by making sure the very wealthiest pay their fair share.

Helping people and solving problems—that’s our job, and we can help working families by putting money back in their pockets and taking a little stress off their shoulders.

That’s what I’m fighting for with drug costs too. For years now, drug costs have been skyrocketing.

I’ve heard from so many people from Seattle to Spokane who work hard, play by the rules, save their money—but still have to make impossible choices to afford the life-saving medicine they need.

And that’s the thing—life-saving medicine doesn’t save any lives if people can’t afford it.

Every day, there are people in this country, probably in this room even, wondering if they would be better off rationing their prescription, and risking their lives, just to make ends meet. That is simply unacceptable.

So here’s where Congress and the President can step in. We are pushing for meaningful steps to: bring down drug costs, and crackdown on pharmaceutical companies that are driving prices up.

That means stopping companies from gaming the system and blocking cheaper generic drugs, finally giving Medicare power to negotiate lower prices, permanently capping insulin at $35 a month for patients, and extending relief we passed which is saving millions of patients thousands of dollars on their health premiums this year.

I’m going to keep fighting for all of this, and I know President Biden will too. Which is why I’m so grateful to have him here with me today, and in the White House fighting to help us bring down costs—on everything from prescription drugs to child care—and bring some relief to families here in Washington state. 

And I’m grateful to have other Washington state champions for families in the House as well, like Dr. Schrier.  You have been such a powerful voice for people in our state, especially for patients. I cheered when you got the insulin cap passed in the House, and am pushing to make sure we get this done in the Senate too.

Thank you, and now I’ll turn it over to Congresswoman Schrier.

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