WASHINGTON – The National Grocers Association applauds the passage of the FY 2026 appropriations minibus, which advances critical reforms addressing major challenges facing independent community grocers and the customers they serve. The package includes long-sought pharmacy benefit manager reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in the prescription drug marketplace, reflecting years of advocacy by NGA and its partners to rein in practices that have driven up patient costs, strained community pharmacies, and obscured how prescription drug dollars flow through the system.
The legislation also reinforces the importance of competition across the grocery, pharmacy, and retail sectors. Through the accompanying committee report to H.R. 7006, lawmakers clearly urge the Federal Trade Commission to fully utilize its existing statutory authorities to promote fair competition, particularly in rural and underserved communities where limited competition can lead to higher prices and reduced access to essential goods.
“Congress is sending a clear signal that competition matters for affordability,” said Chris Jones, Chief Government Relations Officer of the National Grocers Association. “The FTC already has the tools it needs to lower prices and restore balance in food, pharmacy, and retail markets. The Robinson-Patman Act was designed for exactly these circumstances, and this is the moment to use it to ensure independent grocers and community pharmacies can compete on a level playing field.”
