[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 127 (Friday, August 3, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

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                               speech of

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3161) making 
     appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of 
the Kingston amendment.
  I understand the arguments in favor of importation, but I don't 
believe that the remedy to solve these problems is to open up our 
Nation's pharmaceutical supply and distribution system to potentially 
counterfeit drugs.
  Now is simply not the time to open U.S. borders to counterfeit 
prescription medicines. A new report by the Center for Medicines in the 
Public Interest scheduled to be released September 30, 2007, projects 
counterfeit drug sales to reach $75 billion in 2010, a shocking 92 
percent increase from 2005.
  According to Peter Pitts, senior fellow for health care studies at 
the Pacific Research Institute and Director of the Center for Medicines 
in the Public Interest, ``The business of selling fake prescription 
drugs to unsuspecting consumers is burgeoning, and is a global 
industry. This underground industry represents a major public health 
risk for citizens of the world.''
  The new report estimates counterfeit drug sales will grow 13 percent 
annually through 2010, compared to just 7.5 percent estimated annual 
growth for global pharmaceutical commerce.
  This amendment is a first step towards opening wide the doors at our 
borders to drug imports--and thus to counterfeit and adulterated 
medicines that will jeopardize Americans' health and safety.
  We should not compromise the public's faith in the quality and safety 
of our Nation's pharmaceuticals by opening our borders, dramatically 
increasing the availability of counterfeit medicines.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge strong support for this motion.

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