Freedom & Progress 2024

The drug pricing reforms mandated in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will have far-reaching effects on patients, health care providers, and the pharmaceutical industry. This panel will delve into the complexities of the IRA’s drug pricing provisions and explore how the new regulations will affect access, innovation, and costs. Health policy experts will analyze the potential benefits and challenges of the policy and what they mean for the future.

While inflation regularly grabs headlines, many other factors are also driving the cost of living ever higher for American families. This panel will examine often-overlooked contributors to rising costs, including housing regulations, health care expenses, energy policies, and labor market dynamics. Scholars specializing in these areas will discuss how they affect everyday expenses and propose solutions that could ease the burden on American households.

Policymakers are showing renewed interest in nuclear power, as countries all over the world seek reliable, sustainable energy sources in the face of extreme weather and energy insecurity. This panel will explore the advances in reactor technology, regulatory changes, and shifts in public perception that are making a resurgence in nuclear power a real possibility. We will also discuss how nuclear energy can meet future energy demands and the hurdles that still need to be overcome to make it a cornerstone of a sustainable energy future.