[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PHARMACEUTICAL MARKET ACCESS ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
this legislation because it will provide our seniors and all American 
consumers the relief they need from skyrocketing drug prices through 
safe, FDA-approved prescription drugs reimported from Canada and 
Europe.
  And I am pleased that a broad bipartisan coalition has come together 
to advance this important measure.
  Currently, the same exact prescription drugs purchased in Canada and 
Europe cost only a fraction of the prices charged in the U.S.
  This does not make sense when a number of our seniors must choose 
between spending their limited income on food or taking on their daily 
dosage of a prescribed medication.
  Some have raised concerns about the safety of importing prescription 
drugs from outside the United States.
  As a nurse, I am always concerned about safety and doing no harm.
  This bill takes important steps to actually improve the safety of 
prescription drugs through:
  State-of-the-art technology to prevent tampering with the packaging 
(the same type of technology used by the Dept. of Treasury to secure 
our currency);
  Strict inspections by wholesalers to test each shipment;
  And by allowing only FDA-approved drugs from FDA-approved facilities 
into the country.
  Further, the legislation's enforcement authority is clear and very 
strong--Manufacturers or importers can be heavily fined or even face up 
to 10 years in prison for failing to comply with safety requirements.
  The plain fact is that more than one million Americans already 
purchase their medicines from outside the American market and there has 
not been one reported death or illness from Americans taking such 
products.
  Mr. Speaker, reimportation is a common-sense thing to do. It is 
probusiness, pro-consumer and it's a safe and effective way for 
Americans to pay less for prescription drugs.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' for this 
legislation, our seniors can't wait.

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