[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H1745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ALLOWING REIMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MEANS LOWER PRICES FOR 
                               AMERICANS

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, before the House voted on the Medicare 
bill, the public was told it would cost $400 billion. Later, we found 
out that the administration knew all along it would cost $550 billion.
  Congress was misled by an administration that hid the numbers from 
the public and Members of Congress because of the perceived political 
benefits of the new law, saying that the end would justify the means.
  But according to today's Chicago Tribune, ``Instead of a political 
bonanza, the Medicare drug benefit is fast becoming an albatross around 
the administration's neck. Not a single new benefit has gone to a 
senior citizen, and the taxpayers got stuck with another $150 billion 
bill.
  Now the administration wants to talk about the benefit that comes 
with a discount card. With the way prescription drug costs have 
skyrocketed over the past several years, this discount card will not 
accomplish anything. It is like a sale at Nieman Marcus. They jack up 
the prices right before the sale.
  In 2001, drug costs increased by 16.9 percent; in 2002, 18.4 percent; 
in 2003, a projected 19.5 percent, and going on to another 15 percent.
  Instead of depending on a flawed Medicare bill, we must literally 
drive prices down by allowing reimportation, allowing us to get our 
drugs in Canada and in Europe where prices are cheaper.

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