E&C Democrats Ask Republicans to Join Their Demand for Release of Secret White House Rx Drug Agreements
Republican Committee Leader Committed to Working With Democrats to “Get As Much Information As We Can” on These Secret Agreements with Pharmaceutical Companies at a February 11 Health Subcommittee Hearing
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO) wrote to Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today following up on Griffith’s offer to work together to reveal the details and terms of more than a dozen highly secretive agreements the Trump Administration has signed with pharmaceutical companies. At a February 11 Health Subcommittee Hearing, Griffith said he would be happy to work with Committee Democrats “in order to get as much information as we can.”
Democratic health committee leaders have requested details on the agreements from the Trump Administration as well as pharmaceutical companies, however, the drug manufacturers have declined to provide specifics citing confidentiality provisions in the agreements with the White House.
“Unfortunately, the Trump Administration has ignored the request by Democratic committee health leaders earlier this year to hand over these secret deals so Congress and the American people can see what is in them,” Pallone and DeGette wrote. “Since Chair Griffith said he was a ‘big believer in transparency, and the more we know, the better job we can do as Congressmen,’ we are now asking you to join us in demanding that the Administration provide these secret written agreements with pharmaceutical companies to Congress.”
To date, 16 pharmaceutical manufacturers have struck confidential agreements with the White House in exchange for a reprieve from tariffs and “future pricing mandates,” in certain instances. However, the terms of these agreements have been withheld from the public and the Trump Administration has attempted to prohibit pharmaceutical companies from sharing details with Congress.
“In the February 11 Health Subcommittee hearing, Chairman Griffith expressed a willingness to work with us to get more information about these deals,” Pallone and DeGette continued. “We thank you for your statement and request that you follow through on your commitment to help us obtain this information so that we can conduct effective oversight of drug costs in our nation.”
Read the full letter HERE.
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