Joe Biden shared a major economic victory with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris after pushing for lower drug prices.
This action may find support among American voters concerned about the cost of living, reported AFP.
The 81-year-old president and 59-year-old vice president announced the agreement as they prepare to take their first trip together since Biden's decision to withdraw from the presidential race less than a month ago.
A "historic" deal with drugmakers will lower the cost of 10 key drugs for seniors for conditions such as diabetes, heart failure and blood clots, the White House said.
The agreement will save seniors in the United States $1.5 billion and the federal health insurance system "Medicare" $6 billion in the first year.
While the deal is Biden's doing, it appears he wants to share the success with Harris, who is battling Republican nominee Donald Trump ahead of the November election.
Harris has already made lowering high prices a key part of her presidential campaign and hopes this drug message will win over voters who have long struggled with inflation.
US residents face some of the highest drug prices in the world, with many paying out-of-pocket despite already exorbitant insurance premiums.
The two will announce the drug price agreement at an event in Maryland. It will be their first appearance together since Biden withdrew from the election after the disastrous debate with Trump.
Biden highlighted Harris' role, saying the "historic milestone" was only possible because the Post-Covid Inflation Relief Act was passed by Congress after his vice president had a tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
"President Biden and I will never stop fighting for the health, well-being and financial stability of the American people," Harris said. |BGNES