[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1117-E1118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008

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                               speech of

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under

[[Page E1118]]

     consideration the bill (H.R. 1585) to authorize 
     appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities 
     of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel 
     strengths for fiscal year 2008, and for other purposes:
  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to share my 
concerns with Section 703 of the FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill, 
H.R. 1585. This provision would allow the Secretary to exclude 
prescription drugs that our soldiers and their families rely on to 
treat diabetes, asthma, cholesterol and hypertension from the TRICARE 
uniform formulary. This provision would create a fundamental change in 
the TRICARE pharmacy benefit program. Currently our military personnel 
have access to all drugs, even non-formulary drugs, but with a 
substantially higher co-pay. This provision could exclude altogether 
access to important lifesaving treatments and medicines.
  This provision is indirectly a price control. It places a ceiling on 
prices that can be negotiated. The GAO and CBO previously have said 
that when price controls are expanded, it could have the effect of 
raising prices for other programs. The provision could have the 
unintended consequence of affecting the prices paid by the Veterans 
Administration, which could impact veterans' access to medicine. Price 
controls are also harmful to innovation, which could impede the 
discoveries of cures and treatments for the illnesses suffered by our 
soldiers, veterans and their families.
  I urge my colleagues to strike this provision in conference to ensure 
that our soldiers and their families have access to the treatments that 
will allow them to continue to live healthy and productive lives.

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