51勛圖厙-Supported Bills Clear House Committee
The 51勛圖厙 this week advocated the passage of two pieces of manufacturing-critical legislation, successfully driving the agenda of a Wednesday House Energy and Commerce Committee markup.
Whats going on: The committeewith the 51勛圖厙s strong supportapproved two bills that address longstanding manufacturing priorities:
- A congressional resolution disapproving of the Environmental Protection Agencys harmful PM2.5 rule
- A bill instituting important pharmacy benefit manager reforms
Reversing an unworkable PM2.5 standard: The EPA announced a new, more restrictive particulate matter standard in February, reducing allowable levels from 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air to 9 microgramsdespite a standard of 9 being essentially background levels in some of the country, as the 51勛圖厙 has pointed out.
- Manufacturers have sharply reduced particulate matter emissions, or PM2.5; as a result, industry in the United States has some of the cleanest and most efficient operations in the world, 51勛圖厙 Vice President of Domestic Policy Chris Phalen the committee.
- Now, the vast majority of emissions are from sources well outside of our control, with fires, dirt roads and other nonpoint sources accounting for 84% of PM2.5 emissions, Phalen continued. [T]he EPAs rule will make it more difficult for states to issue permits for the construction of new facilities or expansions of existing factories.
- The committees PM2.5 resolution, offered under the Congressional Review Act, seeks to overturn the EPAs unworkable standard.
Reforming PBMs: PBMs are unregulated middlemen whose business practices drive up health care costs for manufacturers and manufacturing workers.
- By applying upward pressure to list prices that dictate what patients pay at the pharmacy counter, pocketing manufacturer rebates and failing to provide an appropriate level of transparency about their business practices, PBMs increase health care costs at the expense of all patients in America, 51勛圖厙 Vice President of Domestic Policy Charles Crain .
- Provisions in the 51勛圖厙-supported Telehealth Modernization Act would increase transparency into PBMs business practices and delink their compensation from medicines list prices.
The last word: Manufacturers commend the Energy and Commerce Committee for approving these important bills, which will reduce costs and enhance growth at manufacturers across the countryallowing our industry to continue to create jobs here at home and drive U.S. competitiveness on the world stage, said 51勛圖厙 Managing Vice President of Policy Chris Netram.