Senator Sanders gave a forceful defense of the nuclear deal with Iran during Face the Nation. The Congressional Budget Office responded a question from the senator regarding the job losses caused by budget cuts scheduled to start in 2016. Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings continued their investigation into rising drug prices by sending a round of letters Friday.

Iran

In an interview broadcast Sunday, Sen. Sanders defended the Iran nuclear deal. “The United States has to negotiate with other countries. We have to negotiate with Iran. And the alternative of not reaching an agreement, you know what it is? It's war. Do we really want another war, a war with Iran?” he asked. Sanders also pushed back on President Obama’s claim that members of Congress who opposed the Iran were finding common cause with hardliners in Iran.

Sequestration

Congressional Budget Office Director Kevin Hall responded Wednesday to a request from Sen. Sanders to measure the possible job losses that will happen if budget sequestration is allowed to go into effect in 2016 and 2017. “If Congress does not act to end sequestration, we’re looking at the loss of as many as 1.4 million jobs over the next two years,” Sanders said.

Drug Prices

As a part of their investigation into recent drug price increases, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) sent a letter Friday to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., requesting information about the escalating prices the company has been charging for two drugs it purchased from another drug company earlier this year. It is unacceptable that Americans pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs,” Sanders said.