[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 92 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S7745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DRUG PRICING DISCOUNTS

   Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I rise today to commend Pfizer, Inc., 
for its new initiative to provide discounts of between 15 and 50 
percent off retail prices of its drug inventory to any uninsured 
American, regardless of age or income. We have been grappling with the 
issue of quality, affordable healthcare and accessibility to 
prescription drugs for some time. I think all of us in Congress believe 
this is one of our most critical challenges. A lot of thoughtful work 
has gone in to trying to address this, but from my perspective, we have 
had only limited success to date. As an industry leader, Pfizer has 
really stepped up to the plate to fill in some of the gaps that we all 
acknowledge still exist.
   The recently passed Medicare reform bill gives limited assistance to 
seniors and the disabled but leaves 44 million other uninsured 
Americans without coverage for their medications. The new program 
Pfizer is undertaking will offer assistance to those Americans who are 
not eligible for help under the Medicare plan. Pfizer's effort is truly 
a model of corporate responsibility, and I applaud the company for its 
example. I am particularly proud that Pfizer has a strong commitment to 
my State of New Jersey, with over 3,700 employees there.
   We can especially appreciate that this new program covers a range of 
circumstances. It is widely acknowledged that expanded access to 
prescription drugs is integral to improving the health and quality of 
life for millions of Americans. By offering substantial discounts on 
its entire drug inventory, including the widely used Lipitor, Celebrex 
and Zoloft, Pfizer is taking an innovative and proactive approach to 
providing relief to the many Americans who would have gone without 
these vital medicines because they could not afford them.
   In addition, there are 27 advocacy groups that have joined in 
support of the Pfizer initiative. This kind of collaboration between 
industry and community-based organizations represents public-private 
partnerships of the best kind. I am pleased to join with so many others 
in commending Pfizer's groundbreaking announcement, and look forward to 
working with all my colleagues in Congress on efforts to provide 
quality, affordable prescription drug coverage to all Americans.

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