Paul, Colleagues Support Legislation to Lower Drug Prices PDF Print E-mail
FOR RELEASE: September 8, 2000

Paul, Colleagues Support Legislation to Lower Drug Prices

Washington, D.C. - Representative Ron Paul and several of his colleagues in Congress issued a joint letter to the Agriculture Appropriations conference committee this week, urging its members to allow the importation of FDA-approved prescription drugs. Specifically, the letter recommended that the committee include a provision in the current Agriculture Appropriations bill that would allow Americans to obtain FDA-approved drugs from a variety of sources, creating greater price competition. Paul said the provision is similar to language in his "Pharmaceutical Freedom Act" (HR 3636), legislation he introduced to make prescription drugs more affordable for millions of American seniors.
"Many seniors struggle to afford the prescription drugs they need in order to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle," Paul stated. "Yet federal regulations eliminate cost-effective ways to obtain medications. Anyone wishing to import an FDA-approved prescription drug should be permitted to do so. This approach provides Americans with more affordable options to care for themselves and their loved ones."
The letter was written by a bipartisan coalition of House members. It underscored the immediate need for relief from skyrocketing prescription drug bills, especially among seniors living on a fixed income. Paul noted that while Congress needs to remove barriers to importation of approved drugs, it also must stop over-regulating Internet pharmacies that provide needed price competition.
"The Internet makes pharmaceuticals and other products more affordable and accessible," said Paul. "However, the federal government has threatened to eliminate this option by imposing unnecessary and unconstitutional regulations on web sites which sell pharmaceuticals. Any federal regulations will inevitably drive up drug prices, thus depriving many consumers of access to affordable prescription medications."
"I want to thank my colleagues for joining me and supporting America's seniors by leading the effort to find a real solution to the rising costs of prescription drugs," Paul concluded. "I also urge them to cosponsor my "Pharmaceutical Freedom Act," so that we may continue to help seniors afford prescription drugs by reducing their taxes and permitting price competition among pharmacies and drug manufacturers."