[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 758 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 758

 Opposing the inclusion in future free trade agreements of provisions 
that would have the effect of restricting, undermining, or discouraging 
    the enactment or implementation of legislation authorizing the 
       importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 8, 2004

    Mr. Brown of Ohio (for himself, Mr. Gutknecht, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. 
Sanders, and Mr. Emanuel) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Opposing the inclusion in future free trade agreements of provisions 
that would have the effect of restricting, undermining, or discouraging 
    the enactment or implementation of legislation authorizing the 
       importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.

Whereas the House of Representatives has, by a commanding tripartisan margin, 
        passed legislation that would give Americans greater access to safe, 
        effective, affordable prescription drugs imported from Canada and other 
        allied nations;  x 
Whereas the Senate is considering legislation that would give Americans greater 
        access to safe, effective, affordable prescription drugs imported from 
        Canada and other allied nations;  x 
Whereas the importation of safe, effective, affordable prescription drugs is a 
        reasoned, market-based response to a brand name drug industry pricing 
        policy that is biased against the United States, harmful to the American 
        economy and the health and well-being of the American people, and 
        unsustainable over the long term;  x 
Whereas provisions of the free trade agreements with Singapore, Australia, and 
        Morocco would subject the United States Government to international 
        trade suits by the drug industry if prescription drug importation 
        legislation were implemented;  x 
Whereas the Central America Free Trade Agreement signed this year by the 
        President contains provisions that would undermine efforts to give 
        Americans greater access to safe, effective, affordable imported 
        prescription drugs; and  x 
Whereas similar ``investor-to-state'' suits have been brought against 
        governmental authorities in the United States under earlier free trade 
        agreements, effectively undermining the ability of those authorities to 
        protect the health and safety of their citizens: Now, therefore, be it 
        x 
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) opposes the inclusion in future free trade agreements 
        of provisions that would have the effect of restricting, 
        undermining, or discouraging the enactment or implementation of 
        legislation authorizing the importation of prescription drugs; 
        and
            (2) urges the President to renegotiate the Singapore, 
        Australia, Morocco, and Central America free trade agreements 
        for the purpose of eliminating provisions that would have such 
        effect.
                                   x