Jane Harman: “Notwithstanding the importance of competition, Mr. Speaker, this legislation is about harnessing the promise of the most…”

“Notwithstanding the importance of competition, Mr. Speaker, this legislation is about harnessing the promise of the most advanced pharmaceuticals for the most vulnerable members of our society, our children. Dr. Jay Lieberman, a pediatric disease specialist from my district, has told me that literally every day he sees children with serious, sometimes life-threatening infections on whom he must use the antibiotics and other drugs that have not been tested to determine how safe they are for kids. We must do all we can to end this lack of knowledge, and the extension of patent exclusivity for companies that test their pharmaceuticals for children is the proven way to help kids.”