Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks on Apr. 16 during a committee hearing focused on lowering prescription drug costs for American families by promoting competition among generic and biosimilar manufacturers.
The issue of rising health care costs remains significant for many families across the country. The HELP Committee is responsible for legislating on public health, education, workforce issues and retirement programs with the goal of protecting health and supporting worker rights, according to the official website.
Cassidy said that increasing access to affordable medication is urgent: “Life is too expensive right now. Families are struggling to keep up, and much of that is driven by health care costs.” He emphasized that approximately 90 percent of all drugs dispensed in the U.S. are generics and noted their impact: “In 2024, generics generated roughly $450 billion dollars in savings.” Cassidy also discussed his Money and Value for Patients (MVP) agenda aimed at making care less expensive.
He addressed both traditional generics and newer biosimilars—complex medicines designed as alternatives to biologic drugs—which account for about five percent of prescriptions but nearly half of total drug spending. Cassidy said his goal is “to take the lessons learned from generics and apply them to the biosimilars market to bring down prices for Americans.” He referenced ongoing legislative efforts such as the Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act and Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act.
The committee influences federal regulations affecting health and education across the United States according to its official website. It also provides oversight of federal laws and agencies in these areas, serving as a key body for policy decisions.
Cassidy said he supports a free market approach rather than eliminating patent protections: “Patent protections incentivize ingenuity… It’s the kind of government overreach that only harms Americans in the long run.” He pointed out recent Food and Drug Administration steps estimated to reduce certain study costs by up to 50 percent. In addition, he mentioned President Trump signing into law a PBM reform act intended to increase transparency around prescription drug transactions.
The HELP Committee focuses on federal policy in sectors including health—overseeing agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to its official website.
Cassidy concluded by thanking witnesses attending the hearing: “I thank the witnesses for being here and look forward to talking with you all about how we can support the Administration’s efforts to lower drug prices…”
