Here's why Democrats were chanting 'HR 3' during the State of the Union


During the State of the Union on Tuesday night, President Trump said his administration is "taking on the big pharmaceutical companies," and by working together, "the Congress can reduce drug prices substantially from current levels."
Trump announced he has been talking with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) about a way to "get something on drug pricing done, and done properly. I am calling for bipartisan legislation that achieves the goal of dramatically lowering prescription drug prices. Get a bill to my desk and I will sign it into law without delay."
House Democrats quickly responded by getting to their feet, holding up three fingers, and chanting, "H.R. 3! H.R. 3!" H.R. 3 is the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, named in honor of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). The measure requires Medicare to negotiate for lower prices on insulin and other life-saving medicines, and was passed by the House in December. Now, the bill is sitting in the Senate.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump also said he is committed to offering "affordable" and "high-quality" health care, and made a bold promise to "always protect patients with pre-existing conditions." Trump tried in Congress, and his government is still trying in court, to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which prevents health insurance plans from charging people with medical conditions higher prices. Trump tweeted a similar claim last month, which was "part fantasy, part delusion, part politics, and all lie," Prof. Jonathan Oberlander of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill told PolitiFact. "The president is lying about pre-existing conditions. He supported, and continues to support, efforts to repeal the ACA that would take those consumer protections away."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Scottish hospitality shines at these 7 hotels
The Week Recommends Sleep well at these lovely inns across Scotland
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Scientists invent a solid carbon-negative building material
Under the radar Building CO2 into the buildings
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: April 1, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Schumer: Did he betray the Democrats?
Feature 'Schumer had only bad political options'
By The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published