[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 170 (Friday, November 21, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H12106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRESS COULD DO BETTER FOR SENIORS

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, today the House will take up an incredibly 
complicated $400 million bill which purports to provide seniors 
something they need: help in buying pharmaceuticals. We could do this 
more simply and more cost effectively. We could have the government 
negotiate lower drug prices on behalf of seniors as they do for the 
Veterans' Administration, a minimum of a 24-percent reduction for 
veterans' drugs and actually an average of about 50 percent.
  There is a bigger group of Medicare people. We could do better. It 
would not cost anything.
  We could also allow the free reimportation of FDA-approved, U.S.-
certified, U.S.-manufactured drugs from Canada and other countries. 
Many seniors in my district are doing that now, saving an average of 50 
percent. But, no. Instead, this bill is going to prohibit the 
reimportation. This bill is going to prohibit the government from 
negotiating lower prices for pharmaceuticals, all to protect the 
profits of the pharmaceutical industry at a time when many seniors 
cannot afford the drugs they need to maintain their health.

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