[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1658-E1659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PHARMACEUTICAL MARKET ACCESS ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in opposition to H.R. 
2427, the so-called Pharmaceutical Market Access Act.
  The high cost of prescription medicines is one of the most serious 
issues facing our seniors. Proponents of H.R. 2427 claim that if we 
would simply open our borders to medicines that are imported from other 
countries our problem would be solved. Unfortunately, the solution is 
not that easy.
  I have consistently voted against unsafe importation measures because 
they subject consumers to medicines that may have been altered or are 
cheap imitations of medicines approved by the Food and Drug 
Administration. The bill before us seriously threatens the safety of 
U.S. consumers; therefore, I will vote against it.
  Safety is the ultimate issue in this debate. H.R. 2427 would allow 
for the importation of prescription medicines from other countries 
without any assurance that those medicines are safe. The 106th Congress 
enacted legislation that would allow importation but only if the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services certifies those medicines are 
safe. But neither former Secretary Shalala nor Secretary Thompson has 
been able to do this. The Canadian government also recently stated that 
it cannot and will not assure the safety of the medicines exported to 
the U.S. Additionally, consumers will not be able to depend on their 
local pharmacies to screen their medicines. Importing medicines from 
foreign countries is the wrong prescription for America.
  There are other ways to help lower the costs of medicines. Together 
Rx is an initiative developed by seven of the world's largest 
pharmaceutical companies to provide seniors and other eligible Medicare 
patients with access to savings on over 170 medicines using just one 
discount card. The card is free and requires patients to merely fill 
out an easy-to-understand registration form to qualify. Once approved 
for Together Rx, patients may fill their prescriptions at any pharmacy 
they choose and get a discount immediately at the register. This 
initiative, which is honored at almost every pharmacy in the U.S., has 
already saved nearly one million Medicare patients almost $100 million 
since its inception.
  Instead of supporting risky plans like importation, we should 
encourage seniors to take

[[Page E1659]]

advantage of initiatives, like Together Rx, that are safe, effective, 
and proven to provide Medicare patients with medicines at lower cost.
  But Mr. Speaker, if the House really wants to address the issue of 
high drug costs, it would pass a real prescription medicine benefit for 
our seniors. The Congress needs to enact a prescription medicine plan 
that is simple, comprehensive, and a part of Medicare. I am hopeful 
that in conference we are able to come together in a bipartisan manner 
and pass a real prescription medicine benefit. That is part of the 
solution to this problem.
  The bill before us is a threat to the safety of America's drug supply 
and its consumers. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 2427 and the 
motion to recommit.

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