[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  REIMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have a constituent in Queens, New York, 
who pays $409 for a 3-month supply of Prilosec for his wife. The same 
drug, the same dosage, same everything, would cost him $184 in Canada. 
But it is illegal for him to purchase this medication in Canada and 
reimport it back into the U.S.
  The only crime I see here is the high prices being charged by drug 
companies. They are truly gouging Americans.
  Therefore, I am working with a number of my colleagues to allow 
individuals, pharmacists, and wholesalers to reimport prescription 
drugs back into the U.S. and pass the tremendous savings on to all 
Americans.
  The GOP Congress will not pass a Prescription Drug Fairness for 
Seniors Act.
  The GOP Congress will not pass a prescription drug benefit under 
Medicare.
  Well, now I challenge this Congress to allow for the safe 
reimportation of FDA-approved drugs for Americans. It would lower drug 
costs by 50 percent overnight without costing the Government of this 
country one single dime.
  Let me say this to America: The drug companies oppose this plan, this 
bill. Therefore, we all know it must be good for America.

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