[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PHARMACEUTICAL MARKET ACCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in strong support of H.R. 
2427, a bill that will help lower the cost of prescription drugs for 
our seniors. I applaud the efforts of Representatives Emerson, 
Gutknecht and Emanuel to get this bill to the floor for a vote.
  For many years now, I have supported adding a prescription drug 
benefit to the Medicare program. While I have strong concerns about the 
bill that passed the House last month on this subject, I am hopeful a 
good final product can be worked out with the Senate that will indeed 
give prescription drug relief for our seniors. This bill tonight is an 
important part of that effort. While helping seniors with the costs of 
their drugs is critical, we must also take steps to lower the cost of 
prescription drugs.
  It is no secret that U.S. seniors pay far more for the same drugs 
than seniors in Canada, Europe and other parts of the world. For 
example, the same prescription for Prilosec costs $112 in the U.S., but 
only $59.00 in Canada and $49.25 in Europe. H.R. 2427 would allow the 
reimportation of U.S.-produced drugs into the U.S. to take advantage of 
these lower prices.
  However, the pharmaceutical industry is desperate to maintain its 
ability to force seniors to pay the highest possible prices for 
prescription drugs. Seniors in the U.S. should not have to supply the 
profit margin for the prescription drug industry. Too many people have 
to make the choice between eating dinner and buying their medicine. Too 
many people are cutting their pills in half to make their prescriptions 
last longer. We can do something about that by passing this bill 
tonight.
  Mr. Speaker, the Senate prescription drug legislation contains a 
reimportation provision. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation so it can be included in the final version of the Medicare 
prescription drug bill. By conservative estimates, we can save our 
seniors $630 billion over the next decade by passing this legislation. 
Our seniors deserve equity with seniors elsewhere in the world. I urge 
my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 2427.

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