Update: House Oversight and Reform Chairman Elijah Cummings called witnesses, including victims families, that contend the escalating prices in life-saving prescription drugs has put patients lives at risk.

“The Committee on Oversight and Reform is investigating the actions of drug companies in raising prescription drug prices in the United States, as well as the effects of these actions on federal and state budgets and on American families,” Cummings wrote.

“For years, drug companies have been aggressively increasing prices on existing drugs and setting higher launch prices for new drugs while recording windfall profits,” Cummings wrote. “The goals of this investigation are to determine why drug companies are increasing prices so dramatically, how drug companies are using the proceeds, and what steps can be taken to reduce prescription drug prices.”

—– Reported earlier in Monday morning ———-

Ranking Republican Jim Jordan scolded House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Elijah Cummings for targeting President Trump and taking significant actions against the administration “without consulting with minority members.”

Moreover, Jordan, R-Ohio, noted dozens of decisions made by Cummings “with no consultation with the minority.”

Jordan listed them out:

Cummings sent 51 letters to the Trump administration, changed the name of the committee, launched a security clearance investigation of the administration, and scheduled hearings without consulting minority members.

Some of the information wasn’t discovered until members watched CNN, Jordan said.

“You sent letters to 12 pharmaceutical companies, with no consultation with the minority. Michael Cohen, your first big hearing, actually, your first big postponed hearing, you’re going to bring a guy into Congress who in five weeks is going to prison for lying to Congress.”

Cummings had stated that the committee would work together for the American people and Jordan agreed. Jordan, however, questioned the numerous decisions made over the past months by the new Democratic leadership that excluded the minority.

“Abusing our oversight authority by running partisan investigations intended to embarrass the administration should not be what this committee is about,” said Jordan.

.@Jim_Jordan tells chairman @RepCummings at the first hearing/ new Congress on Oversight and Government Reform that "abusing our oversight authority by running partisan investigations intended to embarrass the administration should not be what this committee is about." — Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) January 29, 2019

Jordan also singled out Cummings decision to have Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, testify without consultation. More importantly, Cummings eliminated a committee requirement requiring a congressional member be present at a deposition of a witness called to testify before the committee.

“Think about this, you do have big power,” he said. “You can subpoena whoever you want, whenever you want, bring them in front of a congressional committee and we’re not even going to show that individual the respect of having a member present when they’re deposed.”