Lowering health care costs will be a key focus at the Democratic National Convention this week, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) set to speak about reducing prescription drug prices and confronting the pharmaceutical industry, according to campaign officials.
The four-day convention, which begins Monday at the United Center in Chicago, will emphasize the party’s commitment to health care reform. Each night will spotlight the Democratic agenda, led by Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and introduce their vision to the American people.
Speakers including Sanders, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will emphasize Harris and Walz’s support for strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The speeches will also contrast Democratic policies with the health care plans of former President Donald Trump, who is pursuing his Project 2025 agenda, which critics say would drive up health care costs by repealing the ACA. Trump has recently claimed he would improve the ACA rather than repeal it.
The speakers bring personal insights into health care reform. Garcia, who lost both parents to COVID-19, will address Trump’s handling of the pandemic, while Underwood, a nurse, will focus on preserving the ACA. Lujan Grisham, whose mother was a breast cancer researcher, will highlight the importance of cancer research and access to health care.
On Sunday, the Democratic National Convention Committee released the themes for each day of the convention. Monday’s theme is “For the People,” featuring a speech from President Joe Biden that will showcase his accomplishments alongside Vice President Harris. Tuesday’s theme, “A Bold Vision for America’s Future,” will focus on the Harris-Walz campaign’s vision for progress, contrasting it with Trump’s policies.
Wednesday’s theme, “A Fight for Our Freedoms,” will spotlight Walz, with an emphasis on his role as a defender of freedoms and advocate for working families. The convention will close on Thursday with the theme “For Our Future,” where Harris will deliver her acceptance speech. The programming will underscore the stakes of the upcoming election, stressing that the nation “can’t afford” another Trump presidency.
Health care reform will remain a central focus of the convention, following Harris’ recent announcement of economic proposals during a campaign stop in Raleigh, North Carolina. In her speech, Harris promised to reduce the cost of insulin and other prescription drugs, and to demand greater transparency from companies that inflate drug prices.
Building on her years of work as vice president, senator, and California attorney general, Harris has made reducing health care costs a cornerstone of her campaign. Last week, she made two major announcements: one with President Biden about lowering drug prices, and another outlining her plan to ease financial burdens on the middle class.
With these achievements secured, lowering health care costs will be a major theme throughout the convention, officials said.
