Political Quotes

“What good are life-saving drugs if you can't afford them? That's why real reform of the Nation's health care system begins with promoting quality and affordability. I am excited this legislation is moving forward because the FDA will finally have a system for bringing more life-saving generic drugs to market. Today's bill authorizes the first generic drug user-fee program in order to expedite the approval of generics, which are only a fraction of the cost of brand-name drugs. Generic medications can save a patient $1,000 a year on medication alone, but it may well yield billions in savings across our Nation when affordable generic drugs are used to treat acute and chronic illness. Right now, consumers are spending millions, if not billions, more in out-of-pocket costs because the FDA doesn't have the resources to tackle 2,800 generic applications awaiting review. There will be fewer strokes, heart attacks, and cases of cardiovascular disease when this bill moves forward into law, and we will be assured the medicines our families take are of the highest quality. Under this bill, regulators will no longer be able to look past China's history of tainted drugs, like the 2007 heparin scare that killed 200 people. I would like to thank Congressmen Dingell and Waxman and Chairman Upton for moving forward with this bipartisan bill. I urge its adoption.”