[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 7 (Friday, January 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H498-H499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           PASSAGE OF H.R. 4

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I believe we have an obligation to ensure that 
our Nation's seniors have access to the world-class prescription drugs 
which have been developed to improve their quality of life and, in some 
cases, to save those lives. That is why I thought that the previous 
Congress did a disservice to our Nation's seniors when the flawed 
prescription drug benefit was created.
  I want Medicare part D to work as well as possible for America's 
seniors, and that is why Congress needs to address the gap of drug 
coverage that occurs when a senior enters the so-called doughnut hole 
and does not get financial help.
  I want Medicare part D to work as well as traditional Medicare, which 
does work well. I will soon reintroduce legislation to help those who 
have experienced the predicament of being stuck in the doughnut hole by 
increasing the types of expenses that are counted toward their total 
out-of-pocket costs. This will help seniors get through the doughnut 
hole.
  Now, today, the House passed legislation to give seniors access to 
affordable medicines. I supported this legislation because I think we 
need to act to improve the drug benefit and ensure that our Nation's 
seniors are properly taken care of.
  I am pleased that the legislation maintains the prohibition on 
formularies contained in the original 2003 drug benefit legislation. It 
seems to me that national formularies, to limit available medicines, 
would do more to undermine patient health than to lower costs and, 
therefore, should not be imposed.
  I remain concerned that there is no such language concerning price 
controls. I don't think the government can effectively establish 
prices. The marketplace is the best place to set prices that will help 
ensure the continuing pipeline of lifesaving and life-improving drugs. 
Historically, price controls have proved to be an awkward, clumsy way 
to allocate goods and services under ordinary circumstances.
  But I want to talk for a moment about the great research that is 
being done at a number of different pharmaceutical companies in my 
district, in my State and across America. Research and development is 
the lifeblood of America's economic growth. Let me repeat: research and 
development is the lifeblood of America's economic growth.
  I am proud to be the founder and co-chair with the gentlelady from 
Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) of the Congressional Research Service and 
Development Caucus.
  Now, every time this House acts, we should make sure that we protect 
the vibrant, path-breaking research that is occurring in the United 
States.
  Now, there is a reason that we had a debate today on the prescription 
drug bill. We had the debate and the vote on this because the 
pharmaceutical research has been extraordinarily effective. 
Pharmaceutical companies have produced medicines that are not only very 
good for keeping people alive, improving their lives and reducing 
suffering, but medicines that were even inconceivable a decade or two 
ago. These medicines are truly a matter of life and death, and we would 
not be having this debate, but for the success of the pharmaceutical 
companies.
  I don't want today's debate to leave anyone with the impression that 
this body wants to demonize the industry and make them stop doing their 
lifesaving work. None of the drugs we hear about were created 
overnight. They took years of effort by thousands of talented 
researchers and scientists. Starting with maybe half a million chemical 
compounds after years of basic research, a company might end

[[Page H499]]

up with, say, 10 safe and effective compounds. The best one, after 8 
more years of clinical trials, might receive FDA approval. And then, 
and only then can they begin to bring this medication to market.
  This research is costly, but vitally important. At every step along 
the process the research might prove to be noneffective, and the 
process would have to start over again. It is not easy; it is not 
cheap. These companies spend more money on research and development 
than any other industry.
  I often point out that we in the United States fail to invest 
sufficiently for research and development in every sector of our 
economy, with the possible exception of pharmaceuticals.

                              {time}  1530

  Let us not punish these companies for their very success and research 
that will be to the possible benefit of nearly every person in America.
  While we must ensure that all Americans get the full benefit of that 
research, and that is part of what today's legislation was about, it is 
essential that we do everything in Congress we can to ensure that 
America maintains its innovative edge and continues to grow as a leader 
in research and development.

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