A .pdf of 108th US Congress H.R. 847  (Requires Adobe)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 12, 2003 WASHINGTON, DC – Ensuring that Wisconsin seniors can continue to access more affordable prescription drugs from Canada, 49 U.S. House legislators are backing a newly introduced Congressional bill. The House legislation (HR 847) would stop pharmaceutical companies from restricting consumers from obtaining these medications. This initiative is endorsed by many U.S. and Canadian senior, health and advocacy organizations, one which has even taken out advertisements to condemn drugmakers that prevent consumers in need from getting their cheaper drugs. Called the “Preserving Access to Safe, Affordable Canadian Medicines Act of 2003,” the legislation is led by Representative Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and co-sponsored by dozens of other legislators. Under the bill, drug companies would be subject to fines of up to $1 million if they discriminated against U.S. consumers who purchase their drugs from Canada. “The political reality is that the pharmaceutical industry is the most powerful lobby in Washington, DC, has hundreds of millions of dollars at their disposal, and has some very powerful friends at the White House and in Congress,” explained Sanders at a recent briefing at the U.S. Capital. “So while we continue to fight vigorously to lower the cost of prescription drugs in this country, we are going to do everything that we can to make sure that Americans, who are forced to buy their medicine in Canada, be allowed to do that.” Joining him at the briefing, Andy Troszok, vice president-standards of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, a group of licensed pharmacies that serve U.S. and Canadian customers, said Canada’s pharmacies have first-class standards that are comparable to those in the United States. “Canada’s international pharmacies have among the highest standards for pharmacy service in the industry, which is a key reason that more than 1 million American seniors are safe in buying their medications from us,” said Troszok. Another Canadian pharmacist also spoke in favor of the bill. “People in great need – from cancer and diabetes patients to those on Medicare and either uninsured or underinsured – are our primary patients, who we are fighting for with this bill,” said Andrew Yan, pharmacist at Canadameds.com international pharmacy. This legislation comes after drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, in January, was the first pharmaceutical company to stop supplying its Canadian drugs to pharmacies and their suppliers in that country, if they sell medications to American consumers in need. Drug Price Comparisons To get an idea of the major price differences between the two countries, Celebrex arthritis drug (100mg/60caps) costs $105 at CVS.com in the U.S., while it is $45 or 67 percent less at Canadameds.com. And, Tamoxifen cancer drug (20mg/30tabs) is $117 at CVS.com, but $22 or 82 percent less at Canadameds.com (all prices rounded to nearest US$).  HOUSE BILL HR 847 DESCRIPTION To see full pdf description of the House bill, click here  CO-SPONSORS Source: Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) ARIZONA: Rep. Marion Berry CALIFORNIA: Rep. Bob Filner, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano Rep. Fortney Pete Stark, Rep. Hilda L. Solis, Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey CONNECTICUT: Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton FLORIDA: Rep. Corrine Brown, Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, Rep. Robert Wexler HAWAII: Rep. Neil Abercrombie, Rep. Ed Case ILLINOIS: Rep. Lane Evans, Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.,  INDIANA: Rep. Dan Burton MAINE: Rep. Thomas H. Allen, Rep. Michael H. Michaud, Rep. John F. Tierney MASSACHUSETTS: Rep. Michael E. Capuano, Rep. Barney Frank, Rep. James P. McGovern, Rep. Martin T. Meehan, Rep. John W. Olver MICHIGAN: Rep. Sander M. Levin MINNESOTA: Rep. Martin Olav Sabo MISSOURI: Rep. Jo Ann Emerson NEW JERSEY: Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. NEW YORK: Rep. Joseph Crowley, Rep. Timothy H. Bishop,  Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Major R. Owens, Rep. Jose. E. Serrano, Rep. Louis McIntosh Slaughter, Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez Rep. Anthony D. Weiner OHIO: Rep. Sherrod Brown, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Rep Steve C. LaTourette, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich OREGON: Rep. Peter A. DeFazio TEXAS: Rep. Chris Bell, Rep Lloyd Doggett WEST VIRGINIA: Rep Nick J. Rahall, II WISCONSIN: Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Gerald D. Kleczka,