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2005 Ron Paul Chapter 18
Not linked on Ron Paul’s Congressional website.
Congressional Record [.PDF]
Introduction Of The Prescription Drug Affordability Act
2 February 2005
HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, February 2, 2005
2005 Ron Paul 18:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Prescription Drug Affordability Act. This
legislation ensures that millions of Americans,
including seniors, have access to affordable
pharmaceutical products. My bill makes pharmaceuticals
more affordable to seniors by reducing
their taxes. It also removes needless
government barriers to importing pharmaceuticals
and it protects Internet pharmacies,
which are making affordable prescription drugs
available to millions of Americans, from being
strangled by Federal regulation.
2005 Ron Paul 18:2
The first provision of my legislation provides seniors a tax credit equal to 80 percent of
their prescription drug costs. While Congress
did add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare
in the last Congress, many seniors still have
difficulty affording the prescription drugs they
need in order to maintain an active and
healthy lifestyle. One reason is because the
new program creates a “doughnut hole,”
where seniors lose coverage once their prescription
expenses reach a certain amount
and must pay for their prescriptions above a
certain amount out of their own pockets until
their expenses reach a level where Medicare
coverage resumes. This tax credit will help
seniors cover the expenses provided by the
doughnut hole. This bill will also help seniors
obtain prescription medicines that may not be
covered by the new Medicare prescription
drug program.
2005 Ron Paul 18:3
In addition to making prescription medications more affordable for seniors, my bill lowers
the price for prescription medicines by reducing
barriers to the importation of
FDA-approved
pharmaceuticals. Under my bill, anyone
wishing to import a drug simply submits
an application to the FDA, which then must
approve the drug unless the FDA finds the
drug is either not approved for use in the
United States or is adulterated or misbranded.
This process will make safe and affordable imported
medicines affordable to millions of
Americans. Mr. Speaker, letting the free market
work is the best means of lowering the
cost of prescription drugs.
2005 Ron Paul 18:4
I need not remind my colleagues that many senior citizens and other Americans impacted
by the high costs of prescription medicine
have demanded Congress reduce the barriers
which prevent American consumers from purchasing
imported pharmaceuticals. Congress
has responded to these demands by repeatedly
passing legislation liberalizing the rules
governing the importation of pharmaceuticals.
However, implementation of this provision has
been blocked by the Federal bureaucracy. It is
time Congress stood up for the American consumer
and removed all unnecessary regulations
on importing pharmaceuticals.
2005 Ron Paul 18:5
The Prescription Drug Affordability Act also protects consumers’ access to affordable medicine
by forbidding the Federal Government
from regulating any Internet sales of FDA-approved
pharmaceuticals by State-licensed
pharmacists.
2005 Ron Paul 18:6
As I am sure my colleagues are aware, the Internet makes pharmaceuticals and other
products more affordable and accessible for
millions of Americans. However, the Federal
Government has threatened to destroy this option
by imposing unnecessary and unconstitutional
regulations on web sites that sell pharmaceuticals.
Any Federal regulations would inevitably
drive up prices of pharmaceuticals,
thus depriving many consumers of access to
affordable prescription medications.
2005 Ron Paul 18:7
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to make pharmaceuticals more affordable
and accessible by lowering taxes on senior
citizens, removing barriers to the importation
of pharmaceuticals and protecting legitimate
Internet pharmacies from needless regulation
by cosponsoring the Prescription Drug
Affordability Act.
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