LOTF: An American Political Roleplay (116th Congress)

[Louisianan]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Linda Lazare
[Democratic - 7th District of the State of Texas]

"Mr. Speaker, I motion to take up the Public Divulgence of Prescription Discounts and Real-Time Recipient Prescription Expense Act"

[New Cobastheia]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Linda Lazare
[Democratic - 7th District of the State of Texas]

"Mr. Speaker, I motion to take up the Public Divulgence of Prescription Discounts and Real-Time Recipient Prescription Expense Act"

Representative Kathleen Nez
[Democratic - Arizona's 7th District]
[Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives]

"I second the motion Mr. Speaker."

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Linda Lazare
[Democratic - 7th District of the State of Texas]

"Mr. Speaker, I motion to take up the Public Divulgence of Prescription Discounts and Real-Time Recipient Prescription Expense Act"

Representative Kathleen Nez
[Democratic - Arizona's 7th District]
[Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives]

"I second the motion Mr. Speaker."

Park

"I object Mr. Speaker."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

The Acting President Pro Tempore of the Senate
[Republican - Somewhere]
{Acting President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate}

"With all votes counted, the Merriam Amendment is adopted to the Stop Chinese and Russian Imperialism Act. The floor of the Senate is open for motions or debate."

[Meelducan]

Senate Floor
Clerk of the Senate

After receiving a communication from the President Pro Tempore, the clerk stood and began speaking.

"Washington D.C, May 26, 2020

To the Senate:
Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby appoint the Honorable Rebecca Trelawney, a Senator from the State of Indiana, to perform the duties of the Chair.

Myles L. Burckhalter,
President pro tempore"

The clerk resumed his seat.

[Vaquas]

House Floor

Speaker Pro Tempore Dan Ziegler (D-CO-01): "With a second and an objection, the House will now vote on the motion to take up the Public Divulgence of Prescription Discounts and Real-Time Recipient Prescription Expense Act."

[Vaquas]

House Floor

Representative John Garfield III (D-MI-09): “Aye.”

[Louisianan]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Linda Lazare
[Democratic - 7th District of the State of Texas]

"Aye."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Representative Caroline Simone
[Democratic - 12th District of the State of New York]
{Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|NOT PRESIDING}

"Aye."

Representative Katherine Edwards
[Republican - 3rd District of the State of Georgia]

"Aye."

[Madrinpoor]

Representative Alexander Santiago
[Democratic - 27th District of Florida

"Aye"

[Jovuistan]

House Floor

Speaker Pro Tempore Dan Ziegler (D-CO-01): "With a second and an objection, the House will now vote on the motion to take up the Public Divulgence of Prescription Discounts and Real-Time Recipient Prescription Expense Act."

Representative Phillip Crawford
[Democratic - 3rd District of Kentucky]
{Chair of the House Democratic Caucus}

"Aye."

[New Cobastheia]

Representative Kathleen Nez
[Democratic - Arizona's 7th District]
[Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives]

"Aye."

---

Representative Chip Renfus
[Republican - Mississippi’s 4th District]

"Aye."

[The Orion Islands]

Senator Colbert: "Mr. President, I move to vote on the Stop Chinese and Russian Imperialism Act as amended."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Senator Colbert: "Mr. President, I move to vote on the Stop Chinese and Russian Imperialism Act as amended."

Senator Augusta Merriam
[Republican - State of New Hampshire]

"Madam President, I second the motion from the Senator from Utah."

[Greater Arab State]

Senate Floor

Senator Rebecca Trelawney (R-IN) {Acting President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate}: "Without objection, the Senate will now vote on the Stop Chinese and Russian Imperialism Act. The Clerk will call the roll.”

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

Farnsworth: "Aye"

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Senator Rafael Navarro
[Democratic - State of California]

"Aye."

---

Senator Augusta Merriam
[Republican - State of New Hampshire]

"Aye."

[The Orion Islands]

Senator Colbert: "Madam President, I vote aye!"

[Vaquas]

House Floor

Speaker Pro Tempore Dan Ziegler (D-CO-01): "With the votes tallied, the motion to consider the bill passes and the House of Representatives will consider the Public Divulgence of Prescription Discounts and Real-Time Recipient Prescription Expense Act. Representative Lazare of Texas has the floor."

[Louisianan]

House Floor

Speaker Pro Tempore Dan Ziegler (D-CO-01): "With the votes tallied, the motion to consider the bill passes and the House of Representatives will consider the Public Divulgence of Prescription Discounts and Real-Time Recipient Prescription Expense Act. Representative Lazare of Texas has the floor."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker." Linda says as she stands to speak, "Today, I ask a question of my colleagues. How many of you have had the flu? How many of your kids have had the flu? When you go to the local drugstore or pharmacy to get a prescribed bottle of Tamiflu to fight the illness, you could probably get it for free with your insurance. A typical course of brand-name Tamiflu capsules can cost between $155 to $175 for those without insurance. This is crazy. I have another question for you, how many of you have a relative, or know someone who has arthritis? Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Costs Nearly Doubled in 6 Years."

"Since 2014, prices for Enbrel and Humira have increased by over 100%, for instance. Unfortunately, there are few options for patients to save on these medications. Since Biologic drugs are made out of living cells, they are nearly impossible to replicate, and we may never see generics for them. The expenses involved with these treatments can add up. As a nurse, it was always painful to prescribe medications like this that our patients obviously couldn't afford."

"Depending on what the specific health insurance covers, a person may end up paying a large amount out of pocket. It’s not uncommon for Arthritis sufferers to pay up to $30,000 every year for medication. And even though health insurance may cover part of the costs, they sometimes have to pay out of pocket as much as 30% of the cost of these drugs."

"Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, cost most patients between $1,500 and $2,000 each year, depending on the medication that the person uses. Good, quality, Parkinson's medications can cost up to this same price. For instance, a constituent called me and explained her situation to me. She has both Parkinson's and arthritis and she pays a few thousand dollars per month for her medications. Now, certain retirees may be able to afford these medications, but the simple fact is that not everyone can."

"Schools teach children to be mindful, to keep an eye out for tricks and gimmicks. Many adults do the same thing, they look out for deals on a pack of chicken wings at the supermarket, or look for the cheapest bag of rice, or the sale on watermelons. What my bill would do is basically tell pharmaceutical companies to do what these stores do. Stores let people know when they have deals, pharmaceutical companies do not."

"While citizens can go on websites like GoodRX.com to match prices, to find discounts, find coupons, and find cheap alternatives, some are skeptical of the website. What my bill will do is establish a price-matching service for medications from simple Omeprazole to Tamiflu, to Rosuvastatin. The skepticism of websites like GoodRx is that in some cases, coupons may be expired, and deals may be gone. A simple fix is this bill, this price-matching service would force pharmaceutical companies and health plan sponsors to give the Secretary of the Department of Health real-time updates on these prices, which would go onto our real-time benefits tool."

"Pharmacy Benefit Managers will work tirelessly to keep this service updated with said real-time benefits information, to make sure that citizens are aware that there are ways to lower their medication costs. By voting 'Aye' for this bill, we are helping the general public, as well as letting them know that they are first, not price-gouging companies."

"This bill would ensure that citizens have every opportunity possible to make the most economic, sensible, and educated spending choices when it comes to their medications, all in the hopes that more money stays in their pockets, for them to enjoy as they see fit, in an effort to make their American Dream come true, regardless of their disabilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

[Sarenium]

Deb, Howard and Jillian vote 'Aye'.

[Kargintinia]

Senator Nickolai Dernilski (D-OH):

"Mr. President, I vote Nay." This bill was tad too hawkish for his taste.

[Vaquas]

Senate Floor

Senator Greg Kost (R-FL): “Aye.”

[Lavan Tiri]

Senator Kimberly Dunbar
R|Kansas

"Aye."

[Jovuistan]

Senator Richard Slater
[Republican - Arkansas]

"Aye."