Lowering Prescription Drug Costs

congressman allen's e-newsletter

Lowering Prescription Drug Costs

Earlier this week, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 into law—which included significant reforms to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Community pharmacies, including those in the 12th District, have consistently called for transparency into PBM operations and reforms to their tactics.

These major reforms, which I have worked on for many years in Congress, will:

Lower health care and prescription drug costs
Increase savings for patients
Enhance transparency
Preserve patient access to care

I am proud that we were able to get the job done and deliver a win for patients, pharmacies, and families. Read more HERE.

Visiting Eisenhower Army Medical Center

Following our letter to the Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency demanding answers about potential changes in the scope of services at Eisenhower Army Medical Center (EAMC), Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) and I visited the facility to discuss current operations with the leadership team.

Our servicemembers, their families, and veterans in the CSRA and across the 12th District should feel confident that we will continue to emphasize the importance of EAMC and its pivotal role in maintaining excellence at Fort Gordon. President Trump has prioritized strengthening and rebuilding our military infrastructure and has directed a comprehensive approach to improving the quality of life and accessibility to services for those who wear the uniform. Any potential reduction in services at this respected facility would, in no way, further this shared goal.

To read the full letter to Acting Director Smith, click HERE.

Touring Jefferson Hospital in Louisville

I recently visited Jefferson Hospital in Louisville—which provides primary medical and surgical care to thousands of residents in Jefferson County and the surrounding area. I sat down with the leadership team and received an update on hospital operations and some of the challenges they face.

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts into law—transformative legislation that established the Rural Health Transformation Program. I was proud to recently announce that over $218 MILLION will be allocated to Georgia's rural hospitals, just like Jefferson Hospital.

As always, I am forever grateful to these dedicated caregivers and staff for their tireless commitment to serving Jefferson County and providing quality, community-based care to 12th District families.

Visiting Trusted Metal in Martinez

I also had the opportunity to stop by Trusted Metal in Columbia County. Trusted Metal addresses critical gaps in metal additive manufacturing qualification for defense, space, and national security programs.

During my visit, Co-Founder Hunter Taylor showcased how they are driving the adoption of cutting-edge 3D printing materials, technologies, and products—fueling innovation and ensuring the industry's success. Thanks for having me!

Joining the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance

On Wednesday morning, I attended the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance at the Museum of the Bible, where Christian and government leaders gathered to pray for our nation. As Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, if you or a loved one is in need of prayer, please submit a request on my website.

Watch my prayer HERE.

The 2026 Congressional Art Competition is Underway

The 2026 Congressional Art Competition is underway! Every year, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor a nationwide high school art competition. This contest is open to all high school students (9th – 12th grade) in Georgia’s 12th District. The winning piece will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, and its student artist will receive an invitation to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the national winners’ reception.

This competition is a special tradition that provides high school students the opportunity to display their art for the country to see. I look forward to seeing submissions from our young artists in the 12th District, and encourage all interested high school students to participate.

More information HERE.

This Week's White House Highlight

President Trump recently signed an Executive Order creating the White House Great American Recovery Initiative to coordinate a national response to the disease of addiction across government, healthcare, faith communities, and the private sector in order to save lives, restore families, strengthen our communities, and build the Great American Recovery.

The Order directs the Initiative to:

Recommend all necessary steps to coordinate the Federal Government’s response to the addiction crisis, including by better aligning relevant Federal programs, setting clear objectives, and providing data-driven updates to the public on progress towards meeting these objectives;
Take appropriate actions to increase awareness of the disease of addiction, help Americans receive the treatment they need, and foster a culture that celebrates recovery;
Advise agencies on how to implement programs that integrate prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery support, and re-entry;
Advise agencies on directing appropriate grants to support addiction recovery, with a focus on prevention, treatment, and long-term resilience; and
Consult with States, tribal nations, local jurisdictions, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, the private sector, and philanthropic entities on the best strategies to ensure more Americans receive the treatment they need and celebrate individuals going through the recovery process.

This Week's Committee Activity

Energy and Commerce Committee

Subcommittee on Energy Subcommittee hearing:

"Oversight of FERC: Advancing Affordable and Reliable Energy for All Americans"

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) plays a vital role in ensuring that families and businesses across the country have access to reliable and affordable electricity and natural gas. During this hearing, we discussed the work being done to strengthen our electric grid and lower energy costs for American families.

Watch my remarks HERE.

Subcommittee on Energy markup:

The subcommittee advanced five cybersecurity-related bills to the full committee, including:

H.R. 7258, Energy Emergency Leadership Act
H.R. 7266, Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act
H.R. 7257, Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid (SECURE Grid) Act
H.R. 7272, Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act
H.R. 7305, Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026

Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing:

"Common Schemes, Real Harm: Examining Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid"

As fraud schemes are being perpetrated across the United States, we must recognize that we cannot preserve our Medicare and Medicaid programs for our most vulnerable populations if we do not combat destructive fraud that is draining the system. During this hearing, we examined additional solutions to root out fraud in government health programs.

Watch my remarks HERE.

Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing:

"Evaluating FirstNet: Performance, Accountability, and Reauthorization"

Starting as a 9/11 Commission recommendation to strengthen emergency communications infrastructure, FirstNet has been a critical resource for first responders operating in moments of crisis. I asked our witnesses about the importance of reliable telecommunications during natural disasters, such as Hurricane Helene.

Watch my remarks HERE.

Education and Workforce Committee

Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee hearing:

"Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work"

I chaired a HELP Subcommittee hearing to explored ways to help ensure American workers and job creators are ready to compete and succeed in an economy driven by artificial intelligence (AI).

Read my opening statement HERE.

Watch my line of questioning HERE.

Read a hearing recap HERE.

This Week's Office Visitors

As always, it was great to meet with a couple of groups this week to talk about the issues that matter most to them.

Those pictured include representatives from:

National District Attorneys Association
Ferrero North America

Follow me on Social Media!

Social media is a great way to stay connected and I encourage you to keep up with my work in Congress by ‘liking’ my Facebook page and following me on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

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As always, my office is here to help. If you'd like to email me, please click here.

To contact one of our district offices, please click here.

To stay informed about what is happening in Washington D.C. and in our district, please follow me on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Sincerely,

Rick Allen
Member of Congress