[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MOTION TO GO TO CONFERENCE, OBEY MOTION TO INSTRUCT

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                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2003

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's Congressional Record reflects my 
vote as ``yea'' on rollcall Vote 624, Representative Obey's motion to 
instruct conferees on the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2004. I 
would like to state for the Record that my vote should have been 
``nay.''
  I have long opposed the reimportation of prescription drugs because 
it creates a significant safety risk for consumers. A recent 
examination of several mail facilities by FDA and U.S. Customs 
reinforces these concerns. After six days in four cities, these 
examinations found drugs being reimported that have never been approved 
by the FDA, without labeling or instructions for safe use, and even 
some that the FDA has withdrawn from the U.S. market for safety 
reasons. In addition, expanding the importation of prescription drugs 
increases the likelihood that seniors will receive counterfeit drugs, a 
potentially very serious health hazard.
  Finally, liberalizing the importation of prescription drugs does not 
address the underlying problem of high prescription drug costs. There 
are other legislative remedies that can decrease prescription drug 
costs without undermining consumer safety. For these reasons, I oppose 
the Obey motion to instruct conferees on the Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2004.

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