En español | WASHINGTON—The following is a statement from AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond on the approval of two bills endorsed by AARP: Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act (H.R. 965) and the Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2019 (H.R. 1499).

“AARP thanks the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for approving the bipartisan CREATES Act, sponsored by Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Peter Welch (D-VT), and David B. McKinley (R-WV). The CREATES Act closes loopholes to stop drug companies from blocking the development of lower-cost generic drugs.     

“AARP also thanks the subcommittee moving forward on the Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2019, sponsored by Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL). This bill would ban pay-for-delay deals that price gouge consumers by blocking access to less expensive medicine.

“Big drug companies have a monopoly that stifles competition and protects their profits. AARP believes that eliminating these deliberate anticompetitive behaviors will result in a more robust generic drug market and greater savings for both patients and taxpayers. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that legislation like the CREATES Act could save taxpayers more than $3 billion over a decade.

“AARP applauds the subcommittee and Congressional leaders for standing together in a bipartisan manner to help take real steps to tackle our national crisis of high drug prices. We urge Congress to enact these bills to increase competition and the availability of less expensive generic drugs.”

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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

Media Contact: Greg Phillips, 202-434-2560, gphillips@aarp.org, @AARPMedia