Dear Friends,

Our fellow Texan, Representative Ron Wright, did not expect a cancer diagnosis when he went to his doctor for a routine physical last summer; unfortunately, that is exactly what he got. The doctor identified a spot on his lung that was concerning. Further testing showed that the spot was, in fact, lung cancer and it had already spread to his liver and his lymph nodes in his neck and chest. On August 23, 2018, Ron was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and was told the average life expectancy was 16 months. More clearly, Ron was not supposed to be alive today.

The doctors immediately started Ron on an innovative immunotherapy cancer drug that had proven to be effective with several different cancers.  This life-saving drug was developed through a large financial investment and the research and development was done solely in the private sector.  The drug’s development didn’t use a single penny of your tax payer dollars.

Today, Ron is feeling great and his future is brighter than ever. His last checkup showed that the cancer is gone from his liver and his lymph nodes and the mass in his lungs has shrunk to the size of a raisin. Five years ago, Ron’s diagnosis would have been a guaranteed death sentence, but thankfully, he is still with us today representing the people of Arlington and the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Nancy Pelosi’s drug pricing bill, H.R. 3, stifles the type of innovation and cutting edge research that saved Ron’s life.  In fact, the Congressional Budget Office expects Pelosi’s bill to keep some 15 fewer diseases from being cured over the next decade.  Others expect her bill to keep up to a third of new, life saving drugs from hitting the market. We need to make prescription drugs more affordable, but we cannot do it at the expense of finding breakthrough cures that save lives.

That is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2019.  H.R. 19 gives Americans the affordability they need and the choices they deserve at the pharmacy counter. This measure rightfully puts the power back in the hands of you and your doctor, rather than with the insurance companies. Every single provision of the bill has demonstrated bipartisan support and President Trump is ready to sign it into law!  H.R. 19 increases competition and puts more affordable, generic medicines on the market and is the “Wright” choice for you and your North Texas family.

Sincerely,

Kay Granger