Paul Continues Efforts to Allow Prescription Drug Importation PDF Print E-mail
FOR RELEASE: October 4, 2000

Paul Continues Efforts to Allow Prescription Drug Importation Seniors Will Benefit from Lower Costs

Washington, D.C.- Congressman Ron Paul recently sent a letter to the House Subcommittee on Health and Environment requesting a hearing on prescription drug legislation he introduced earlier this year. The "Pharmaceutical Freedom Act" (H.R. 3636) is designed to make prescription drugs more affordable for millions of American seniors by permitting the importation and re-importation of pharmaceuticals.
The "Pharmaceutical Freedom Act" eliminates federal restrictions that prohibit Americans from importing or re-importing drugs at lower cost from foreign pharmacies.
"Drug importation is critical to lowering prices, because importation allows U.S. consumers to benefit from worldwide price competition, " Paul stated. "Clearly, when we permit Americans to import drugs the result is increased competition and lower drug prices. It is just plain old common sense that allowing low cost prescription drugs into this country is less costly than busing folks to foreign countries to fill their prescriptions. I encourage my colleagues to solve this problem by passing this legislation instead of engaging in publicity stunts where Americans go to Canada or Mexico to find affordable prescription drugs. American citizens should never have to leave the country to obtain affordable prescription drugs."
Paul's letter urged the congressional subcommittee to quickly schedule a hearing on the bill. "Congress needs to act," Paul concluded. "Seniors need lower drug prices and tax relief, not massive new government spending on doomed programs. I plan to continue my efforts to promote this and other effective health care legislation in Congress."