WASHINGTON — A bipartisan organization dedicated to lowering drug prices announced Tuesday it has endorsed U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., in this year’s election for the 1st Congressional District seat.
Patients For Affordable Drugs NOW, which was founded in February, said in a press release it will launch a six-figure campaign to “educate, activate and mobilize” voters in support of McKinley’s campaign
McKinley is running for his fifth term in the House of Representatives. He does not have an opponent in the May primary election, and will face off against either Ralph Baxter, Kendra Fershee or Tom Payne in the November general election.
“Poll after poll, Americans say that lowering prescription drug prices should be a top priority in Congress. Yet the majority of the time, Congress has ignored it,” said Ben Wakana, the organization’s executive director.
“One member of Congress has stood up to drug companies and is working to lower drug prices, and that is David McKinley,” he added.
Patients for Affordable Drugs NOW said McKinley’s introduction of the FAST Generics Act — which would increase consumer access to generic drugs and lower prices — helped get their support.
“Millions of Americans choose not to fill prescriptions or they cut doses, they cut pills in half or go into credit card debt to afford their prescription drugs,” Wakana said. “We think it is an issue that Congress should address and we’re glad that Congressman McKinley has done that.”