CONGRESSMEN PAT RYAN AND MARC MOLINARO INTRODUCE THE BIPARTISAN LOWER GROCERY PRICES ACT TO DECREASE COST OF LIVING

Congressmen Pat Ryan and Marc Molinaro Introduce the Bipartisan Lower Grocery Prices Act to Decrease Cost of Living

Bill requires government to analyze trends in grocery costs over the past 20 years, develop solutions as part comprehensive national plan to lower grocery prices

Bill builds on Ryan’s record of fighting to lower the cost of living for Hudson Valley families

NEWBURGH, NY – Today, Congressmen Pat Ryan and Marc Molinaro introduced the bipartisan Lower Grocery Prices Act to reign in the price of groceries and address the cost of living crisis facing Hudson Valley families. The bill would require the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to analyze the price of groceries over the last 20 years, provide effective solutions on how to lower costs, and develop a national plan to combat the high prices and ease the affordability crisis. The Lower Grocery Prices Act builds on Ryan’s prioritization of delivering direct economic relief to Hudson Valley families by tackling the cost of living crisis.  

“Hudson Valley families are spending way too much of their hard-earned income just to put food on the table — we can’t allow this to continue. Ahead of July 4th, as we all gather for barbecues, beers, and parades, I’m taking direct action to bring down costs and deliver relief,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “I’m proud to join my Hudson Valley neighbor Congressman Molinaro in leading this legislation, and I’ll use every tool at my disposal to get inflation in check. Whether it's taking on price gougers, or fighting back against corporate monopolies, I’ll keep pushing relentlessly to ease the burden on Hudson Valley families.  

"As Upstate New Yorkers are stocking up on groceries for July 4th, it's hard to ignore the skyrocketing prices,” said Congressman Marc Molinaro. “We shop at Sam’s Club or Hannaford every week and know we are all paying too much for too little. We're in an affordability crisis and Upstate New York families are struggling to survive. I'm fighting to bring costs down."

Congressman Ryan has prioritized delivering direct economic relief to Hudson valley families facing the cost of living crisis. He long pressed to hold Central Hudson accountable for its egregious utility billing practices that overcharged customers for years. Just last week, the Public Service Commission announced a historic $60+ million settlement that will include a $4 million Customer Benefit Fund to provide direct relief to Central Hudson ratepayers harmed by the company’s billing and meter reading issues.

Congressman Ryan introduced his Stopping Pharma’s Ripoffs and Drug Savings For All Act to make generic alternatives for medications easier to produce and more accessible by stopping big pharma from exploiting the U.S. patent system. Ryan has also fought for an Expanded Child Tax Credit, which was included in the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, and will benefit 40,000 kids in NY-18. The Act also includes a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which will help develop more than 200,000 affordable housing units across the U.S. 

Ryan has also fought to continue the Affordable Connectivity Program, which helped over 46,000 NY-18 households afford internet access. He cosponsors the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act and has repeatedly called on House leadership to take a vote on the bill.

In March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that large grocery corporations exploited price increases caused by the pandemic supply chain issues to further raise prices, pad their profit margins, and quell smaller competitors. Also in March, President Biden began calling out companies who engaged in the practice of “shrinkflation” in which the price of a product remains the same, but the amount of the product is covertly decreased.

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