PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.987 / 116th Congress

Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Official summary

Version 53 · Passed House · May 16, 2019

Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act This bill addresses prescription drugs and the health insurance market, including (1) revising processes related to federal approval of generic drugs; (2) providing funding for states to establish health insurances exchanges; (3) nullifying an agency rule related to short-term, limited duration coverage; and (4) expanding outreach activities.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE-At Large] · D–DE

Committees

  • Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  • Budget Committee
  • Energy and Commerce Committee
25 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  2. The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 987.

  3. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. On passage Passed by recorded vote: 234 - 183 (Roll no. 214).

    House roll call 214 · Individual votes
  5. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 234 - 183 (Roll no. 214).

    House roll call 214 · Individual votes
  6. On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 188 - 228 (Roll no. 213).

    House roll call 213 · Individual votes
  7. The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

  8. DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walden motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to strike title I and insert new text.

  9. Mr. Walden moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H3904-3908)

  10. The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

  11. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  12. The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 987.

  13. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cunningham amendment No. 27.

  14. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Horn amendment No. 26.

  15. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cox (CA) amendment No. 24.

  16. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cox (CA) amendment No. 23.

  17. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pappas amendment No. 22.

  18. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Wexton amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Wexton demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.

  19. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Wexton amendment No. 21.

  20. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Escobar amendment No. 20, as modified.

  21. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gomez amendment No. 19.

  22. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Brown (MD) amendment No. 18.

  23. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Deutch amendment No. 17, as modified.

  24. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lipinski amendment No. 16.

  25. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lynch amendment No. 15.

  26. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lynch amendment No. 14.

  27. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Johnson (TX) amendment No. 13.

  28. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waters amendment No. 12.

  29. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Morelle amendment No. 11.

  30. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Scanlon amendment No. 10.

  31. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McBath amendment No. 9.

  32. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hayes amendment No. 8.

  33. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Shalala amendment No. 7.

  34. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Harder amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Harder demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.

  35. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Harder amendment No. 6.

  36. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeSaulnier amendment No. 5.

  37. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Blunt Rochester amendment No. 4.

  38. The Committee of the Whole continued with further debate on the Welch amendment No. 3.

  39. The Committee resumed its sitting.

  40. The Committee rose informally to receive a message.

  41. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Welch amendment No. 3.

  42. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the McKinley amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. McKinley demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.

  43. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McKinley amendment No. 2.

  44. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone amendment No. 1.

  45. GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with ninety minutes of general debate on H.R. 987.

  46. The Speaker designated the Honorable James R. Langevin to act as Chairman of the Committee.

  47. House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 377 and Rule XVIII.

  48. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5, H.R. 312 and H.R. 987. The resolution provides for 90 minutes of debate on H.R. 5, under a closed rule. Section 2 of the resolution provides for 60 minutes of debate on H.R. 312, under a closed rule and section 3 provides 90 minutes of debate on H.R. 987, under a structured rule.

  49. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 377. (consideration: CR H3853-3904, H3910-3911; text: CR H3868-3873)

  50. Rule H. Res. 377 passed House.

  51. Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 377 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5, H.R. 312 and H.R. 987. The resolution provides for 90 minutes of debate on H.R. 5, under a closed rule. Section 2 of the resolution provides for 60 minutes of debate on H.R. 312, under a closed rule and section 3 provides 90 minutes of debate on H.R. 987, under a structured rule.

  52. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 31.

  53. Committee on the Budget discharged.

  54. Committee on the Budget discharged.

  55. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-53, Part I.

  56. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-53, Part I.

  57. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 22.

  58. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  59. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

  60. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  61. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  62. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  63. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  64. Introduced in House

  65. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.987 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.987 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.987 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.987 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources