Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “I rise in support of H.R. 2427, the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act of 2003, sponsored by Representatives Gutkneckt and…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 2427, the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act of 2003, sponsored by Representatives Gutkneckt and Emerson. I appreciate their hard work and efforts to bring this bill up for debate in this chamber. They have faced considerable obstacles in trying to get this bill considered by this chamber. They are to be commended for their success in having H.R. 2427 debated tonight. Opponents of this bill suggest that patients whom we intend to help with the passage of this bill will actually be harmed. They charge that they will be vulnerable to purchasing unsafe prescription drugs and that we are encouraging patients to purchase lower-cost drugs from countries that have less stringent regulatory regimes. Opponents are also concerned that the bill repeals language that requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify that reimportation of prescription drugs is safe before any reimportation occurs. There are more objections to the legislation, but I have mentioned the major arguments advocated by the bill's opponents. Not too long ago a pharmacist from Michigan visited with my Washington staff. He told my staff how seniors would leave his pharmacy in tears because they did not have the resources to purchase their medicine. This is an important issue to seniors.”