WATCH: U.S. Rep Chip Roy goes off at committee hearing on drug prices

WASHINGTON — Chip Roy, a Republican congressman from Hays County, exploded at a hearing Thursday examining prescription drug prices, blasting Democrats for “preening and posturing for cameras and attacking people for making profit in a capitalistic society.”

He shouted that he was glad a company that made a drug that had saved him in his battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma made money and “I hope they make a lot more.”

The House Oversight and Reform Committee was holding a hearing on an HIV prevention drug known as Truvada, which costs $2,100 a month and has been difficult for patients to afford and had been developed with federal research funding. The hearing was titled “HIV Prevention Drug: Billions in Corporate Profits after Millions in Taxpayer Investments.”

Roy, who lives just outside Austin and was first elected in November, apparently was set off by what he said was “a rant” by the Democrat who spoke immediately before him, Rep. Katie Hill of California. She asked a pointed line of questions to Daniel O’Day, the chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences Inc. which makes the drug about his compensation and corporate profits and said she "took issue” with the millions of dollars paid to corporate executives.

“To sit here and attack the capitalistic system that produces and distributes medicines that are saving lives around the world, I mean, it is just offensive,” said Roy, turning slightly toward Hill. Then, directing himself to O’Day, he said, “I hope you make a lot of money.”

Roy’s outburst prompted an unusual intervention from the panel’s chairman, Elijah Cummings, D-Md., who directed himself to Roy although Roy had left the room. Cummings said he thought members on both sides had asked reasonable questions. “Nobody’s beating up on anybody for profit. ... We’re trying to understand how we can get the 90% of people who need this life-saving medication, how we can get it to them.”