Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2021

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 164) to educate health care providers and the public on biosimilar biological products, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 164.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the rising cost of prescription drugs continues to be a major issue for families all across the country. These costs are particularly daunting at a time when we are facing a severe economic downturn and the ongoing pandemic.

We are committed to continuing to find solutions to make prescription drugs more affordable for the American people. One important way to help families out is to ensure they are aware of more affordable options, like biosimilars and generics. These are both cheaper options, but, unfortunately, utilization of these products continues to be too low here in the United States.

The Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2021 is commonsense legislation that will help provide patients and healthcare providers with greater information about biologics and biosimilars. To do this, the bill requires the FDA to establish a public website with educational materials, including what products are interchangeable, as well as how to report any adverse events.

In addition, the bill would support the development of continuing education programs for healthcare providers about biologics. It is critical that healthcare providers and patients are aware of all of their options, and this legislation will certainly help do that.

I am pleased to work with my colleagues in the Senate on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I also urge support for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 164, the Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act.

This bill is a bipartisan companion to H.R. 1873, championed in the House by Dr. Bucshon and Congressman Peters.

This bill would require the FDA to maintain and operate an internet website to provide educational materials for healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers on biological products, including biosimilar products and interchangeable biosimilar products.

It also would require the Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, to develop continuing education programs or to improve existing programs for healthcare providers, such as doctors and nurses, to promote a better understanding of biosimilar interchangeable products.

By increasing awareness about available biosimilar products and providing educational resources for physicians

and patients about their benefits, we can increase adoption of these lower cost alternative therapies when appropriate and drive down drug costs for Americans across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan effort to lower drug costs through the uptake of biosimilar products, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon), a great member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and a great resource for us nonphysicians.

Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to vote to pass this bill so we can quickly make this law and get it to the President.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in support of S. 164, the Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2021, which is the Senate companion of H.R. 1873, a bill that I introduced with my friend and colleague, Congressman Scott Peters from California.

This bipartisan, bicameral bill will require FDA to create a public website to educate patients and providers about biological and biosimilar products.

As new biological and biosimilar products become available, it is important that physicians have current information on these therapies in order to choose the best treatment for their patients.

Availability of information and education on these new and complex treatments for providers and patients will lead to healthy competition in the biologic and biosimilar product space and ultimately help to lower the cost of these important drugs for patients.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I look forward to the President signing it into law.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.