President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at Prince George’s Community College this Thursday in what appeared to be their first event together since Harris announced that she would be running for president in 2024.
They announced new efforts to make prescription drugs more affordable through the Inflation Reduction Act and lowering prescription drug prices for Americans enrolled in Medicare during the visit.
“Every senior in our nation should be able to live with security, stability, and dignity,” Vice President Kamala Harris said. “In the United States of America, no senior should have to choose between either filling their prescription or paying rent. That’s the subject of today.”
“We pay more for prescription drugs than any other advanced nation in the world,” President Joe Biden said. “Today, I’m proud to announce that Medicare has reached agreement with all manufacturers on all 10 drugs selected in the first round of negotiations.”
Beginning in January 2026, millions of American senior citizens and others on Medicare will begin to see lower drug prices for medications that treat conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and blood clots. This announcement comes after their administration’s successful efforts to cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35, prevent surprise medical billing for unexpected costs, and prohibit health care providers from including medical bills on consumers’ credit reports.
During the event, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks spoke about the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to keep expenses low for the American people. “Lowering costs for working families is the number one priority of this administration. And it’s clear they are making progress,” Alsobrooks said. “America does well when Americans are thriving.”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore also attended and gave remarks emphasizing the importance of this announcement. “It is exciting to know that we have an administration who sees us and fights for us,” Moore said. “Maryland is going to continue to be a full partner with this administration to protect, defend, and strengthen the basic rights that we cherish.”
