WASHINGTON – In today’s early morning hours, U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) announced that a bill to allow the importation of safe, affordable prescription drugs passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 243-186.

 

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Americans will spend $1.8 Trillion on prescription medications over the next ten years.  Conservative assessments place the cost savings achieved by a policy allowing importation at $630 Billion.

 

“Tonight, we had a monumental chance to save senior citizens a third of their total prescription drug costs,” Emerson said.  “I’m very proud of the bipartisan coalition that worked together to pass this critical piece of legislation.”

 

Through importation, we can help the senior citizens who need it most by giving them access to lower prices on the medicines that keep them healthy.  At the same time, safety provisions and anti-counterfeiting measures will remain our highest priority.”

 

Tonight we sent the message that billions of dollars to the American public is more important than billions of dollars to drug companies’ bottom line.  At the end of the day, no amount of lobbying can prevent us from taking this significant step to provide our senior citizens better access to affordable, safe, and FDA-approved prescription drugs.  ”

This has been a long fight, but it has been worth it to have this debate on an issue vital to our seniors.  I would like to thank the House leadership for bringing this bill up for consideration.  It has been a chance to educate Americans on the importance of market access to senior citizens. And I promise the American people tonight is not the last time they will hear about this issue.” 

 

In 2000, Emerson assisted the FDA and Republican leadership in their efforts to write the statute for safety that exists in current law.