Pelosi pushes for drug pricing measure amid uncertainty from White House

There are indications the White House is dropping health care measures from its American Families Plan set to be unveiled next week, and not all Democrats are happy about it.

Among those pushing for the inclusion of a measure to lower drug prices is Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

House Democrats on Thursday reintroduced their signature legislation to lower drug prices, known as H.R. 3, and Pelosi pointedly noted in a statement that including it in Biden’s proposal is important for Democratic lawmakers. The measure would allow the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower drug prices, a long-held Democratic goal.

“Lowering health costs and prescription drug prices will be a top priority for House Democrats to be included in the American Families Plan,” Pelosi said in the statement.

The New York Times reported Thursday that the White House will not include health care legislation in the Families Plan, and instead will tout the measures on a separate track.

Asked about that report, White House press secretary Jen Psaki listed health care as a separate topic from the Families Plan, ahead of Biden’s speech to Congress next week.

“I expect the president, as I noted, to talk about the American Families Plan in his joint address, as well as a number of other issues … important to him, including health care, the need to put in place police reforms,” Psaki said.