Rodney Frelinghuysen: “I rise in opposition to the Sanders amendment, which will literally endanger the safety of our constituents. First…”

“I rise in opposition to the Sanders amendment, which will literally endanger the safety of our constituents. First, there is no doubt that we must and will act to help seniors with the high cost of prescription medicines, but this amendment is not the answer. Secondly, we debated this same issue a year ago. The only thing that has changed is that we now have confirmation from both the former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, and her successor that this amendment could endanger our constituents. Anyone who thinks the threat is not real, I would refer them to the recent testimony of the U.S. Customs Service and the recent news reports that counterfeit drugs are already coming into this country that pose a serious health threat to our citizens. This amendment would essentially make that practice legal and allow unscrupulous marketers to invade our markets and endanger our constituents. Our Nation, with the FDA, has the world's gold standard for ensuring the quality and safety of medicines used by consumers here in the United States and around the globe. Let us not undermine these high standards for consumer safety.”