WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), spoke on the House Floor in support of the Inflation Reduction Act, which the House is expected to vote on later this afternoon. This legislation will lower the out-of-pocket cost of prescription drugs, lower household energy bills, reduce health insurance premiums, and invest in American clean energy to take on the climate crisis — all while closing tax loopholes for big, billion-dollar corporations, making them pay their fair share.
Click here to watch the full speech, and find the transcript of Rep. Pocan’s remarks below.
Rep. Mark Pocan
August 12, 2022
Floor Remarks on Inflation Reduction Act
Remarks as Delivered
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Global inflation caused by our reopening due to COVID-19 has caused increased prices in everything from gasoline to groceries to healthcare. Today, we put people over politics as we lessen the impact of global inflation on the American people via the Inflation Reduction Act.
Among the many things it does, it addresses some of the drivers of higher energy costs, while also investing in US-based renewable energy that will make us more energy independent and less dirty. It finally allows us to negotiate lower prescription drug prices through volume purchasing via Medicare, while capping out-of-pocket drug expenses for seniors to more than $2,000 per year.
And we make these big investments by ensuring that corporations who’ve often gamed the system, pay a minimal share of taxes and go after wealthy tax cheats, who all too often have evaded their responsibilities.
I’ll gladly vote for this bill today.
It’s time to stand up to Big Pharma and those energy companies making record profits while making our planet less safe. And it’s important we make sure that corporations pay their fair share of taxes to reduce the burden on working families.
I yield back.
