Mike Levin: “tonight I vote for H.R. 2427 with some reservations. I have put those reservations aside because this is not the final…”

“tonight I vote for H.R. 2427 with some reservations. I have put those reservations aside because this is not the final step in the process. I would have much preferred if the Republican leadership had not blocked a vote on the Emerson ``Save Our Seniors Act'' and all other amendments. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership decided to block a vote on Emerson and all amendments in the hopes of shutting this effort down and saving the pharmaceutical industry's policy of charging Americans the highest drug prices in the world. Our senior citizens are more likely to need prescription drugs and less likely to have insurance to cover them than any other group. As a result, many of them pay high prices or go without needed medication. That is wrong. In recent years, many seniors in my district have tried to solve this problem by traveling to Canada, where drugmakers charge lower prices for the same medications. Some of them have been able to purchase medications, especially for chronic illnesses, at a thirty to 50 percent discount. I strongly support allowing them to continue doing this without interference from the Food and Drug Administration or the U.S. Customs department. I believe that Canada's system of regulating prescription medications sold at its pharmacies is safe and reliable for my constituents. But bus trips to Canada should not be the answer to the serious problem facing our seniors.”