Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, delivered remarks on Apr. 22 during a hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to discuss President Trump’s proposed budget for the department for fiscal year 2027.
The discussion is significant as it addresses national concerns about health care affordability and federal health policy. The committee plays a central role in shaping legislation related to public health, education, workforce issues, and retirement programs according to the official website.
In his prepared statement, Cassidy said he has heard from constituents in Louisiana about rising costs for essentials like gasoline, groceries, and especially prescription drugs. “When patients speak to me about how expensive their prescription drugs are,” Cassidy said. “It resonated with them when I say…there’s middlemen who are jacking up the price for their own profitability.” He added that giving more power to patients could help bring down prices: “If the patient has the power…then prices tend to come down.” He asked how the administration’s proposed budget would make patients central in decision-making.
Cassidy also referenced recent committee hearings on increasing access to generic and biosimilar drugs as ways to lower costs for families. He noted that many ideas discussed by witnesses had been included in this year’s budget proposals: “This is something we can work on together.” The senator mentioned releasing an agenda called Money and Value for Patients (MVP) aimed at giving funds directly to patients rather than insurance companies.
Addressing broader health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care costs among older Americans, Cassidy said investment in science was necessary: “The way to address that is to invest heavily in science and use that investment effectively.” He advocated making National Institutes of Health resources more accessible across universities nationwide.
On other matters before the committee—including oversight of abortion drug safety—Cassidy told Secretary Kennedy: “Mr. Secretary, you have said every abortion is a tragedy…. It’s time to stop stalling on the safety study for abortion drugs…and it’s time for the administration to stop defending a dangerous and illegal Biden-era policy in court.”
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee influences federal regulations affecting health care across the country according to its official website, oversees agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), serves as a key body guiding policy decisions according to its official website, and provides oversight of laws governing labor standards nationwide according to its official website.
Concluding his remarks at the hearing’s opening session before yielding time to Senator Sanders’ statement, Cassidy reiterated expectations that Congress work collaboratively with federal agencies: “People in my state are struggling…We must meet the moment.”
