[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 111 (Thursday, July 24, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H7458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     OPENING AMERICAN MARKETS TO IMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

  (Mrs. EMERSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, today we may be voting on a measure to 
open American markets to the reimportation of prescription drugs. I say 
we may be voting because, as a Member of this House, I have never seen 
an issue so important to me, to our colleagues, and to the American 
people treated so unfairly.
  Access to affordable prescription drugs is too important an issue to 
only be debated on the House Floor for 1 hour.
  Under the rule formulated for the debate on reimportation, the 
Speaker may pull this bill at any time. If that happens, Americans may 
remain under the thumb of the pharmaceutical industry for the 
foreseeable future.
  In America, breast cancer kills over 40,000 people, especially women, 
each year. Mr. Speaker, a bottle of Tamoxifen used to fight breast 
cancer costs $360 in the United States. It costs $60 in Germany. How 
long will American women who cannot afford Tamoxifen continue to 
subsidize those in Europe who can? And if the drug companies have their 
way in this debate, Mr. Speaker, the sorry status quo will persist. 
Lives will be shortened, lives will be lost. This is bad process, bad 
form, and a bad rule. Our seniors deserve better.

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