Rx Drug Importation House Coalition Marks One-Year Anniversary of Passage of Rx Drug Market Access Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The tri-partisan Members Coalition for Rx Drug Importation, including Congressman Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), Congressman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Congressman Marion Berry (D-AR), Co-Chair of the Prescription Drug Task Force and Congresswoman Anne Northup (R-KY) today released the following statements marking the one-year anniversary of passage of The Pharmaceutical Market Access Act (H.R. 2427), a bill to which would allow Americans to get prescription drugs at affordable prices similar to those in Canada or Europe.

The tri-partisan Rx Drug Coalition has been on the front lines fighting for the American consumer’s right to purchase affordable, FDA-approved prescription drugs from FDA-approved facilities in Canada and other industrialized nations.  On July 25, 2003, the U.S. House of Representatives responded to seniors’ pleas for relief from high-priced prescription drugs with the overwhelming passage of The Pharmaceutical Market Access Act (H.R. 2427) by a convincing 243-186 margin.

Congressman Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) said, “One year ago, the House overwhelmingly passed landmark legislation to allow American consumers access to FDA-approved prescription drugs from FDA-approved facilities in 25 countries. Today, we’re still waiting for the Senate to take action. I hope the Senate isn’t trying to run down the clock on this issue. American consumers have waited long enough for what they deserve: world-class prescription drugs at world market prices.”

Congressman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) said, “Here are the accomplishments in the year since the importation bill passed: prices on top drugs used by seniors have increased 3.4 percent in the first quarter of 2004 alone; seniors have been disappointed by a confusing Medicare discount card that hasn’t lived up to its promise; and importation—a solution supported by a bipartisan majority in Congress and two thirds of the American people—has been stalled by the power of the pharmaceutical industry.  Our seniors and taxpayers deserve better.”

“It is shameful that a year has passed and there has been no action by the Senate on the reimportation of safe prescription drugs from abroad,” Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said. “Republicans, Democrats, mayors, governors, states, and city councils are all supportive of reimportation, but the Senate continues to turn a deaf ear.  This issue now is not just about whether Americans will be forced to pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs - it is about whether the Senate will turn its back on tens of millions of Americans who desperately need lower prices for the medicines they rely on each day to survive.”

“Today we put the first candle on the cake commemorating the one-year anniversary of re-importation legislation passing the house; now we must light a fire under the Senate to finally pass the same legislation,” Congressman Marion Berry (D-AR), Co-Chair of the Prescription Drug Task Force said. “Skyrocketing drug prices have left seniors desperately looking for options and a year ago today the House of Representatives gave them one: an option that would have shed millions from the nation’s drug bills. A year ago today, this chamber gave America's seniors the ability to purchase safe medicines at significant savings from Canada and 25 other industrialized nations. I am hopeful instead of a two-year anniversary; our next gathering will be to celebrate the passage of meaningful prescription drug coverage for seniors including an ability to purchase medicine at the same prices the rest of the industrialized world pays.”

Congressman Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) said, “In the year since the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved importation of safe, secure prescription drugs from foreign countries, much progress has been made.  But it is even more clear from the broadening debate that this policy is necessary to help bring down prices for all Americans.  Drug companies won’t do it on their own.  The Senate must act to move this policy forward and bring price relief to the millions of Americans who rely on prescription drugs in their battle with disease and illness.”

Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said, “Thanks to Republican leadership’s stall tactics, the only thing that’s happened on importation is we’re all a year older.  The American people need to tell Senator Frist and the Republican leadership that they want an importation bill on President Bush’s desk before the November elections.”

Said Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), “As our economy continues to recover, states, cities, and municipalities across the country have turned to importation programs as a means of saving valuable taxpayer dollars, which in turn can be redirected to other priority needs such as schools, hospitals, and police departments. It is time for our colleagues in the Senate to get serious about providing seniors with affordable prescription drugs, and finally pass responsible importation legislation this year.”

“One year ago, Members of the House Of Representatives from both parties voted to ensure that the American people would have access to safe, affordable prescription drugs from other western countries,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).  “The bill passed the House with much jubilation, a signal to the American people that the days of artificially high drug prices and drug company profiteering were coming to an end.  Unfortunately, one year later, a similar bill in the Senate has not been allowed to come to the floor for a vote.  This means that American seniors continue to pay more for the same prescription drugs than their counterparts pay across the border in Canada. This is unacceptable.  We will keep working as long as it takes to open our markets to safe, affordable prescription drugs.”

Congresswoman Anne Northup (R-KY) said, “Last year, the House passed a bill that would allow American consumers to purchase their prescription medications at world-class prices, saving them and all taxpayers millions of dollars each year.  I encourage the Senate to listen to their constituents who want to see this legislation become a reality, and pass a responsible importation bill this year.”