Affirmation Speech:

High drug prices have created a barrier between people and the drugs they NEED to

stay healthy. This country, under our jurisdiction, has forced our citizens to have to choose

between staying healthy or mortgaging their house just to afford the medicine. It’s time that

we end this practice. So let’s understand why we pass today’s legislation.

First, we pass because this legislation while centering on supply chains, improves the

United States pharmaceutical industry. According to the Washington Post, drug companies

have to fight with pharmacy benefit managers, lobbyists, and inventors. Everyone is trying to get

money out of the medicine and since there are so many involved, all want a piece of the profit. A

regulatory commission needs to get involved to end this practice which is done with the passage

of this legislation. Furthermore, the government should promote healthy citizens. Expanded by

the Brookings Institute, this idea has been successful in Europe. In Europe, government price-

setting authorities are able to set the cap and have found an increase in necessary medication use-

combating the problem I cited earlier about Americans not taking their necessary medications.

As well, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, upon implementation as

cited in this legislation, the United States will bring people closer together and make a life for the

American people far better than the status quo.

Second, let’s discuss the points of the negation.

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 Senators, citizens should not have to choose between taking medication and going

grocery shopping. It’s morally incorrect. It’s time that the United States government intervene

and do what is right for our citizens to keep them healthy. Pass this legislation.
Negation Speech:
“For every complex problem, there is a solution that is clear, simple, and wrong.”

Senators, drug pricing is a plague on American society HOWEVER the proposal presented to

you all by Senator Baumer is flawed and will only exacerbate existing problems. So let’s

understand why we fail.

First, we fail because this solution has proven to be a failure. This legislation will

result in inherent problems. According to Kavita Patel from the Brookings Institute, Europe

passed a similar initiative: a government agency overseeing the capping of drug prices. The

government authorities that they trusted with the prices systematically overpriced older, less

innovative drugs while reducing the prices and access to newer, more significant

breakthroughs because of risk. According to the Economist, types of initiatives like these

passed in Europe completely curbed innovation for new drugs that could save many lives. This

legislation curbs the potential breakthroughs in America that could save AMERICAN lives.

Second, let’s discuss the points of the negation.

Senators, competition is what drives America. This country was founded off of market

principles and limited government. Too much oversight will destroy the principles that make this

country great. So fail today’s legislation.