More Than 630,000 Virginians are Living with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes

**VIDEO FOR DOWNLOAD: On Floor of U.S. House, Spanberger Spoke in Support of the Legislation Ahead of Vote**

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Affordable Insulin Now Act — which U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger cosponsored — to lower the price of insulin for individuals and families across Virginia and our country.

The Spanberger-backed legislation would cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 per month and help millions of Americans afford the lifesaving treatment they need. More than 630,000 Virginians are living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Over the past decade, the cost of the four most popular types of insulin has tripled — and out-of-pocket costs continue to skyrocket. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 25 percent of people with diabetes are rationing insulin to lower the cost of their diabetes care.

The Affordable Insulin Now Act is supported by a number of national organizations, including the American Diabetes Association and JDRF.

Ahead of the passage of the legislation, Spanberger spoke on the floor of the U.S. House in support of capping insulin costs and the Virginians that will benefit — like her constituent, Joshua Davis.

Click here to watch Spanberger’s remarks. A full transcript of her remarks is below.

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Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I have been so pleased to hear colleagues across the aisle speak in favor of competition and price negotiations, and I hope that they will follow through in their commitment to supporting competition and negotiation and cosponsor the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, H.R.3.

But that is not the bill we are talking about today. Today, we are talking about the Affordable Insulin Now Act, a bill that would make changes in the lives, in Virginia, of the more than 630,000 Virginians who are living with diabetes.

The Affordable Insulin Now Act would finally make sure that every affected child, teenager, family member, every American can afford the insulin that they need.

People living with diabetes do not have the choice of whether to purchase insulin or not — they depend on it to stay alive.

People like my constituent, Joshua Davis, a 13-year-old Virginian with type 1 diabetes who accompanied Dr. Jill Biden to the State of the Union Address earlier this year.

I am proud to cosponsor this legislation to make sure that no American is skipping lifesaving doses of their insulin or making choices between whether they take their insulin or put food on the table.

I am grateful to my colleagues for leading this effort. Thank you so much.

Madam Speaker, I yield back.

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BACKGROUND

Spanberger has long focused on lowering drug costs for Virginia families. Since coming to Congress, she has heard about the high price of insulin from individuals, families, and local diabetes advocates, including the Davis family. Joshua Davis, a 13-year-old boy with type 1 diabetes from Midlothian, was diagnosed at 11 months old. For years, Joshua and his family have been strong advocates for those with diabetes in Virginia and across the country. And last month, Joshua introduced the President at an event in Culpeper on lowering prescription drug costs.

Click here for the full bill text.

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