[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 12 (Thursday, February 10, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E114-E115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PHARMACEUTICAL ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 10, 2000

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Pharmaceutical Freedom 
Act of 2000. This legislation ensures that millions of Americans, 
including seniors, have access to affordable pharmaceutical products. 
My bill makes pharmaceuticals more affordable to seniors by reducing 
their taxes. It also removes needless government barriers to importing 
pharmaceuticals and it protects Internet pharmacies, which are making 
affordable prescription drugs available to millions of Americans, from 
being strangled by federal regulation.
  The first provision of my legislation provides seniors a tax credit 
equal to 80 percent of their prescription drug costs. As many of my 
colleagues have pointed out, our nation's seniors are struggling to 
afford the prescription drugs they need in order to maintain an active 
and healthy lifestyle. Yet, the Federal Government continues to impose 
taxes on Social Security benefits and limits senior citizens' ability 
to earn additional income by reducing Social Security benefits if a 
senior exceeds the ``earnings limitation.'' Meanwhile, Congress 
continually raids the Social Security trust fund to finance 
unconstitutional programs! It is long past time for Congress to choose 
between helping seniors afford medicine or using the Social Security 
trust fund as a slush fund for big government and pork-barrel spending.
  Mr. Speaker, I do wish to clarify that this tax credit is intended to 
supplement the efforts to reform and strengthen the Medicare system to 
ensure seniors have the ability to use Medicare funds to purchase 
prescription drugs. I am a strong supporter of strengthening the 
Medicare system to allow for more choice and consumer control, 
including structural reforms that will allow seniors to use Medicare 
funds to cover the costs of prescription drugs.
  In addition to making prescription medications more affordable for 
seniors, my bill lowers the price for prescription medicines by 
reducing barriers to the importation of FDA-approved pharmaceuticals. 
Under my bill, anyone wishing to import a drug simply submits an 
application to the FDA, which then must approve the drug unless the FDA 
finds the drug is either not approved for use in the U.S.

[[Page E115]]

or is adulterated or misbranded. This process will make safe and 
affordable imported medicines affordable to millions of Americans. Mr. 
Speaker, letting the free market work is the best means of lowering the 
cost of prescription drugs.
  The Pharmaceutical Freedom Act also protects consumers' access to 
affordable prescription drugs by forbidding the Federal Government from 
regulating any Internet sales of FDA-approved pharmaceuticals by state-
licensed pharmacists. As I am sure my colleagues are aware, the 
Internet makes pharmaceuticals and other products more affordable and 
accessible for millions of Americans. However, the Federal Government 
has threatened to destroy this option by imposing unnecessary and 
unconstitutional regulations on web sites which sell pharmaceuticals. 
Any federal regulations would inevitably drive up prices of 
pharmaceuticals, thus depriving many consumers of access to affordable 
prescription medications.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to make 
pharmaceuticals more affordable and accessible by lowering taxes on 
senior citizens, removing barriers to the importation of 
pharmaceuticals and protecting legitimate Internet pharmacies from 
needless regulation by cosponsoring the Pharmaceutical Freedom Act of 
2000.

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