Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio) addressed the Senate floor to discuss the recent passage of his bill, the SMART OTC Act, and presented his ideas for lowering health care costs in the United States.
In his remarks, Husted reflected on the impact of a recent government shutdown. He stated, “Mr. President, as I’ve said on this floor many times, the government shutdown had many victims. Air traffic controllers, TSA agents and many other public servants. And of course, the American people themselves, who were the most affected by this.”
He noted that with last week’s legislative action ending the shutdown, lawmakers demonstrated their ability to collaborate: “Thankfully, the bill passed in this chamber last week put that chaos behind us. But that wasn’t all that it did. In some small way, in a difficult time, it proved that we can work together to do tangible things to reduce health care costs in this county.”
Husted highlighted his bipartisan efforts behind the SMART OTC Act: “As a matter of fact, I worked on a bipartisan basis to introduce the SMART OTC Act, which became law as part of the government reopening.” He explained its intent: “The bill aims to make lowering the cost of over-the-counter drugs more accessible to patients by eliminating the red tape at the FDA.” He added: “I’m proud to have worked on that bill to make things better for Ohioans and the entire country.”
Reflecting on broader health policy issues since joining the Senate less than a year ago, Husted commented on previous federal actions: “I have been in the Senate less than a year, and I wasn’t here when Congress passed Obamacare or the Biden COVID subsidies that have been used to prop up the ACA exchanges. But I want to be part of the solution.”
He criticized current systems for failing to address underlying expenses: “The ACA exchange system is too expensive and too complicated, and it has failed to reduce the underlying cost of health care. It’s failed. And the truth is, health care inflation is the number one driver of inflation in the 21st century.”
Husted called for reforms centered around patient choice: “If we want to lower costs, want to lower the cost of care, we must deliver reforms that put patients in charge. And I believe we can earn bipartisan support with a straightforward and responsible framework focused on what I call the fraud, freeze and fix approach.”
He also emphasized protecting both families and taxpayers from rising costs: “Two things we need to do: Protect families from…the inflationary costs that ACA has created but also protect taxpayer.” Husted cautioned against seeking quick fixes: “We didn’t get into this mess overnight, and we won’t get out of it simply by writing bigger checks.”
Addressing partisan gridlock he said: “If this debate ends with one side saying extend everything and other side saying we oppose everything nothing will get done…and we will have failed American people.” He urged colleagues toward cooperation stating there was an opportunity now for reform without adding further debt.
“I am newest member U.S. Senate,” he concluded. “I wasn’t here when Congress created this problem but these ideas are part solution… If anyone in chamber willing work together let’s go… The time is now… The American people deserve nothing less… And let’s get ready get job done.”
