Rep. Wild Hosts Drug Pricing Roundtable, ACA Anniversary Press Conference with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra

Congresswoman Wild, Secretary Becerra, and Mayor Tuerk toured the first Spanish-language health care clinic in the Lehigh Valley, hosted a roundtable with patients and providers to discuss the costs of prescription drugs, and celebrated the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.

Yesterday, Congresswoman Susan Wild joined Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk to welcome Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services to Allentown to discuss steps lawmakers are taking to lower prescription drug costs and celebrate the 14th anniversary of theAffordable Care Act(ACA).

They began with a tour of OB/GYN Care Associates of St. Luke's, the first fully Spanish-language clinic in the Lehigh Valley. There, Rep. Wild, Sec. Becerra, and Mayor Tuerk sat down with health care providers and patients to discuss the high cost of prescription drugs and other barriers to access for medical treatments.

"I know the fight to lower prescription drug costs is a long-haul fight, but it is also one that I have consistently been willing to take on. My constituents know that I will always be in their corner when it comes to this work to get their costs down," said Congresswoman Susan Wild. "While there is a lot more work to do, the Inflation Reduction Actwas a massive victory for working Americans. It's a victory that will continue to pay dividends and mean real savings for my constituents and for people across the country."

"Thanks to the President's Lower Cost Prescription Drug Law, more people from Allentown - to Philadelphia - and across the country have the support they need to take care of their health as they pursue their dreams,"said Secretary Xavier Becerra."Fewer families will have to ration their doses, choose between essentials like food and medicine, and have their last thought at night and first thought in the morning be about how they will make ends meet."

"There are few things more exciting to a mayor than a visit from a cabinet secretary, so welcoming Secretary Becerra to Allentown was a thrill," said Mayor Matt Tuerk."I've centered our city's work on health, with a goal of supporting the wellbeing of our residents. His visit underlines the importance of that priority and gives our community a boost as we work to improve outcomes for all."

Later in the day, the group gathered at Star Community Health to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the ACA, the historic law signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010. They highlighted the record number of enrollments in the ACA marketplace this year - over 434,000 of which are Pennsylvanians - and talked about the improvements made to affordable and accessible health care since the ACA first passed Congress.

"Since my first day in Congress, I have been committed to strengthening -- and expanding -- the Affordable Care Act to improve coverage for all Americans," said Congresswoman Susan Wild. "In the wealthiest nation on earth, no citizen should have to risk bankruptcy, take on a second job to cover health care costs, or make the agonizing choice between putting food on the table or getting care for themselves and their families. My work in Congress is guided by that ironclad belief every single day."

"Fourteen years ago, the landscape of health care in America changed forever,"said Secretary Xavier Becerra."Thanks to the vision and the grit of leaders like President Obama and President Biden, we've seen a transformation that's brought health insurance within reach for folks who might've never dreamt it possible."

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