FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 14, 2022
Contact: Will Pregman, [email protected], 702.752.0656
**VIDEO INCLUDED**
Inflation Reduction Act to Lower Costs, Make Life Easier for Nevada Families, Ahead of 2022 Midterm
**Link to Recording**
Passcode: Dy95s$7W
NEVADA – Yesterday, President Joe Biden held a ceremony on the White House grounds dedicated to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The historic law is poised to materially improve the lives of millions of Americans, and tens of thousands of Nevadans with policies that increase affordability of prescription drugs, healthcare, and clean energy, hold greedy corporations accountable, and make the economy more fair.
On Wednesday, community advocates and organizations gathered virtually for a press conference to discuss the benefits of this legislation for Nevada and how it will affect the 2022 midterm election. Each speaker highlighted items within the IRA that will specifically benefit working families in Nevada, particularly seniors who obtain prescriptions via Medicare, low-income communities and communities of color who may see reduced energy costs, and veterans and other Nevadans who will see reduced healthcare premiums, all of which is paid for by closing tax loopholes favoring the ultra-wealthy and corporations.
“I am so thankful to Senator Cortez Masto and our representatives in the House, Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford for fighting for and passing this assistance for seniors,” Donna West, Medicare recipient, said, “I turned 65 last year and enrolled in Medicare. I wasn’t sure what to expect but was able to get the services I needed and my prescriptions. Then I was diagnosed with a new condition. My doctor advised that the preferred medication would cost me about $300 a month. I was in shock. We talked about alternatives and found a medication that would work almost as well that had a generic available. We weren’t as lucky with my husband’s medication for atrial fibrillation. One of his medications costs $280 a month. It is vital, life saving and life extending medication that he must have. I am looking forward to the Medicare negotiations to help us. I am also happy that we now have a $2000 cap on prescriptions.”
Groups and speakers on the call issued the following statements:
“President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act is the most concentrated effort to lower costs for working families and create good-paying jobs in more than a decade,” said For Our Future Nevada State Director Gariety Pruitt. “We applaud Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, along with Southern Nevada’s delegation to the House of Representatives, for supporting this landmark legislation. Thanks to this law, Nevada families will see their energy and prescription drug costs go down while job growth explodes in Nevada’s surging clean energy economy. This is a huge win for both Nevada’s working families and its environment.”“Passing this historic climate investment has taken communities across Nevada and the nation years of resiliency and perseverance,” said Yazmyn Pelaez, Communications Associate with Nevada Conservation League. “That’s why we’re thankful to have a strong federal democratic delegation who understands the present danger climate change poses on Nevadans and especially our most vulnerable communities. The IRA is critical to mitigating global climate change by moving us closer to our net zero emissions goals, expanding our clean energy infrastructure and technology, providing our families economic relief, improving public health, and including long overdue environmental justice provisions. Nevadans are ready to see these investments reach all communities.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act is a historic step forward in achieving affordable health care for everyone, making long-overdue improvements in Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, lowering drug costs for seniors, and stopping pharmaceutical corporations from raising the prices of drugs faster than inflation, without raising taxes on anyone who makes less than $400,000 per year,” said Annette Magnus, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress. “The investments in clean energy build upon the progress Nevada has already made as a state to become a national leader in renewable jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We owe it to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Jacky Rosen, and Representatives Dina Titus, Susie Lee, and Steven Horsford for delivering this incredible piece of legislation for Nevada working families. The $4 billion in drought relief that Senator Cortez Masto specifically fought for is also crucially important to addressing our water shortage issues along the Colorado River.”
“We are also thankful to President Joe Biden for never giving up the fight to rein in drug costs, tackle climate change, and ensure the wealthy pay what they owe in order to fulfill his campaign promises and support American families as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many provisions in this bill also echo priorities of Governor Steve Sisolak’s administration, such as joining the Northwest Prescription Drug Consortium, spearheading a statewide climate initiative, and not raising taxes on working families. It’s sad, but not surprising, that Representative Mark Amodei elected to vote against lowering prescription drug costs for his elderly constituents. Senator Cortez Masto’s midterm challenger, Adam Laxalt, expressed vocal opposition to the IRA, in spite of these cost-saving measures for Nevada families. It’s clear his loyalties lie with the wealthy corporations who’ve until now avoided paying taxes over the hard-working families of Nevada.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act is a massive boost in Nevadans’ ability to thrive and provide for their families,” said Cassie Charles, Field Director of PLAN Action. “By continuing to address the astronomical costs of healthcare in this country by capping prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients and extending the ACA coverage, families won’t need to choose between putting food on the table, keeping a roof over their head, or buying a life saving prescription. While the IRA takes important steps towards ensuring future generations have access to clean water and air, we hoped more was included to ensure that we are not attempting to fight the climate crisis by fast-tracking mineral mining such as lithium in exchange for the lives of frontline indigenous communities like those near the proposed Thacker Pass Lithium Mine.”
SPOKESPEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
###
