[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 22]
[House]
[Page 29981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRESS PUNTS ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, as we address the issue of prescription 
drugs and as speaker after speaker is speaking about prescription 
drugs, there are three attempts to deal with out-of-control prices of 
prescription drugs that are going up on average 20 percent a year:
  One is through the free market principle of reimportation, allowing 
Americans to buy drugs in either Europe or Canada. Second, bulk 
negotiation, creating a Sam's Club using the power of 40 million 
seniors to purchase drugs at reduced prices like they do in Europe and 
in Canada. And, third, through speedy introduction of generic 
medications to market to bring competition to price.
  In all three areas, the pharmaceutical industry got what they want, 
and this Congress punted on getting the price reduction as it relates 
to pharmaceutical prices. We need to offer the taxpayers who are about 
to be asked to spend $400 billion of their money, $400 billion of 
taxpayer money, we owe them the common decency and courtesy to get them 
the best price, either through the free market principle, through 
creating negotiation bulk prices to get prices reduced, or generics. In 
each area, this Congress punted on behalf of the pharmaceutical 
industry.

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