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11-21-2024 5:00 am • PDX and SEA Weather
MLK Breakfast
Former NAACP Portland Branch President Skipper Osborne shared his testimony in opposition to House Bill 4005, currently before the Oregon legislature, with The Skanner News. The text of the testimony is reproduced below.
Greetings,
My name is Skipper Osborne. I graduated from Vernon Elementary 1964, and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1967. I received a bachelor of science/business administration from Lewis & Clark College Undergraduate School in 1990. I worked for the intelligence division for the United States Air Force. I am a very proud 100 percent Disabled American Veteran. I went three years towards a master of divinity at George Fox University. I went two years of pre-law at the College of Legal Arts. I am a licensed minister. I am a former President of the Portland Branch #1120 of the NAACP. I am currently founder/CEO of Truth and Justice for All, a civil rights organization. I have been fighting for civil rights “for all,” for the past 50 years.
My comments are about opposition to HB 4005, which proposes to mandate biopharmaceutical companies to disclose propriety information.
HB 4005 could hurt innovation and ways for companies to develop medications that could help people in the African American community. For example, there are higher rates of breast cancer and prostate cancer in the African American population. Also we need to find cures or better medications for diseases such as sickle cell anemia.
The measures of HB 4005 disregard the fact that medicines are not the dominant drivers for healthcare-sending growth. Healthcare spending growth is due to other factors and healthcare services such as long-term care, hospitalization and provider services.
HB 4005 could potentially decrease access to important therapies.
We feel these new measures would neither benefit patients nor decrease healthcare costs. We strongly oppose HB 4005 and are ready to work with the legislature to develop real solutions. Such as: go after “rogue pricing” as was done with the Epi-Pen, which I am user thereof.
I will be actively working with members of my community to oppose HB 4005. I hope that you take my comments seriously, and understand the damage this bill will do in the discovery and making of pharmaceuticals.
Most respectfully submitted,
Skipper Osborne
