On the recordMay 25, 2010
today I am introducing the Fair Pricing for Prescription Drugs Act to help make prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans. This legislation endorses the excellent work that my colleague Senator Dorgan of North Dakota has done to promote importing prescription drugs from other industrialized countries. And it includes companion language to Congressman Welch's bill to call on the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices on behalf of Medicare Part D beneficiaries. Here in the Senate, several of my colleagues, most recently Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, have tirelessly pushed the need for negotiation of drug prices. I am proud to have stood with my colleagues on these issues over the last decade--and feel strongly that Congress must move quickly to ensure that all Americans--whether they purchase private health insurance or are enrolled in Medicare--have fairly priced prescription drugs. Allowing for importation of prescription drugs and price negotiation for Medicare Part D are common sense policies, These are changes that Congress can make to drastically improve the affordability of prescription drugs for our constituents, save the government money, and further enhance the health reform law passed earlier this year. I was pleased to be a part of that historic effort, but the health reform law was not perfect and did not go as far as it could have to reduce prescription drug prices for consumers.
