Congresswoman Kathy Castor outlined her commitment today to make health care more affordable for Americans by working to lower the prices of prescription drugs.

“Over the past few years, the drug companies have made billions and billions of dollars because they are able to charge exorbitant prices in the United States compared with anywhere else in the world,” Castor said.

Castor is filing an amendment that will require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate payment rates with pharmaceutical manufacturers for prescription drugs under the public option. The amendment will require the Secretary to create a formulary – or price structure – for drugs under the public option. Castor will offer the amendment during the Energy and Commerce markup of The American Affordable Health Choices Act.

Castor’s amendment is part of a package called CARE – Cut Americans’ Rx Expenses. She is working on the package with other members of the Energy & Commerce Committee with agreement from Chairman Henry Waxman.

“We must bring down the cost of prescription drugs,” Castor said. "Drug prices are far too high, forcing too many of my neighbors to choose between filling their prescriptions, making mortgage payments and putting food on their tables. We must rein in these high drug costs and give real power and leverage to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices and to create a list of drugs that will drive competition and encourage pharmaceutical manufacturers to keep costs low. That is how we will realize savings and ensure that prescription drugs are affordable. This will bring us a step closer to making sure health care is affordable and accessible.”

Castor advocates for Florida on the Energy and Commerce Committee. She sought the position so she could focus on issues such as health care. The committee is developing the most significant health care reform legislation in decades.

Castor has been working to lower drug prices for seniors since her first days in office.

“I urged my colleagues to require the Bush Administration to negotiate prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D,” Castor said. “This amendment today is another step in my work to limit the huge profits drug companies make. We must fight for our patients, not the drug companies.”