Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – October 20, 2019

After spending the two weeks of the fall District Work Period traveling across our part of Virginia, I returned to Washington, where Congress considers bills to address prescription drug pricing and foreign affairs, among others. Despite the increased partisanship that has been created by the Speaker’s efforts to move their impeachment inquiry behind closed doors and out of the public view, I remain committed to focusing on the issues and priorities of the Sixth District.

Hong Kong Legislation:
As Ronald Reagan once said, “America is a shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere.” The United States will always stand for democracy, and the citizens of Hong Kong have taken to the streets in support of a fairer society. The desire to live in freedom leads individuals to do heroic acts in the face of certain condemnation, and I applaud the people of Hong Kong for using their voice to spur positive change.

Impeachment:
When Congress sought to impeach Presidents Nixon and Clinton, it was done with bipartisan support and in a transparent and fair fashion before the American people. Unfortunately, the Majority is pursuing impeachment behind closed doors and re-writing the rules to remove due process protections. At the expense of fundamental fairness, the Majority is pursuing impeachment at all costs and have let fall by the wayside the issues that matter most to the American people like passing the USMCA trade agreement, repairing the country’s crumbling infrastructure, and fixing our broken immigration system.

Drug Pricing:
Congress should take action immediately to encourage lower prescription drug prices and better enable Americans to afford the medications they need. That is why I am the lead cosponsor of the Terminating the Extension of Rights Misappropriated Act (TERM Act). This bipartisan legislation would allow for the quicker introduction of generic medications to the marketplace by ending the practice of “evergreening” by the pharmaceutical companies. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi’s H.R. 3, which passed in the Education and Labor Committee this week, would use socialist price controls to crush the pharmaceutical industry, deter innovation, and dramatically reduce the ability of patients to access life-saving medicines. Further, this legislation could cost Virginia roughly 7,200 jobs and nearly $1.8 billion in yearly economic output. I am hopeful that we can address the problem of high prescription drug prices in a bipartisan way moving forward.

Constituent Meetings:
As Members of Congress, one of the great privileges we have is meeting with constituents both in the District and here in Washington. This week, a number of Sixth District residents visited my office to advocate on behalf of causes that matter most to them. Some constituents discussed increasing funding for muscular dystrophy research, others asked for support for the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Liberty University, and one family from Roanoke simply stopped by to tour the Capitol. It is always great to have a bit of the Valley in Washington and to have an opportunity to hear my constituents’ concerns. My door is always open.

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Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.