Posted At The Democratic Party of Wisconsin
BY :
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is cosponsoring legislation to prevent future trade agreements from making it harder for Americans to purchase prescription drugs at cheaper prices from abroad. Feingold, a longtime leader in efforts to ensure and protect the reimportation of safe, affordable prescription drugs, is also cosponsoring a similar amendment, introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and David Vitter (R-LA), to the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) appropriations bill currently pending in the U.S. Senate. The legislation calls for the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to avoid negotiating future trade agreements that could restrict U.S. consumers access to imported prescription drugs.
Many Americans, particularly those who depend on prescription drugs, would find it disturbing to know that their government is actively trying to make it harder for them to obtain the medicines they need at affordable prices, Feingold said. We need policies that help people obtain safe, affordable prescription drugs, rather than policies that are designed to line the pockets of big drug companies.
Recent trade agreements, including the Australian Free Trade Agreement, have included provisions that seek to prevent reimportation. By including these provisions in nonamendable trade agreements, USTR has tried to bypass congressional scrutiny and debate. Currently, in negotiating the agreements, the USTR is advised by a private sector advisory committee system that includes heavy representation from the pharmaceutical industry. The bill Feingold is cosponsoring would also require consumer representation on the committee to advocate on behalf of the publics health or access to medications.
Prescription drug prices have skyrocketed out of control and it's time to get Wisconsinites the relief they need," Feingold said. This legislation will help stop future trade agreements from making it harder for seniors and others to obtain the affordable prescription drugs that they need.
