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<PRE>[DOCID: f:hr26ih.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 26

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
   disparity between identical prescription drugs sold in the United 
                      States, Canada, and Mexico.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 31, 2001

  Mr. Baldacci (for himself and Mrs. Emerson) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
   disparity between identical prescription drugs sold in the United 
                      States, Canada, and Mexico.

Whereas according to the General Accounting Office, a consumer in the United 
        States pays on average one-third more for a prescription drug than a 
        consumer pays for the same drug in another country;
Whereas according to the General Accounting Office, costs for prescription drugs 
        between 1993 and 1998 increased an average of 12.4 percent per year as 
        compared to an increase of 5 percent per year for health care 
        expenditures in general;
Whereas currently one-third of senior citizens in the United States are without 
        prescription drug insurance, and these individuals pay on average 15 
        percent more for a prescription than do citizens with prescription drug 
        insurance coverage;
Whereas it is difficult for many Americans, including senior citizens, to afford 
        the prescription drugs that they need to stay healthy;
Whereas many senior citizens in the United States leave the country and go to 
        Canada or Mexico to buy prescription drugs that are developed, 
        manufactured, and approved in the United States in order to buy such 
        drugs at lower prices than such drugs are sold for in the United States;
Whereas the United States has made a strong commitment to supporting the 
        research and development of new drugs through taxpayer-supported funding 
        of the National Institutes of Health, through the research and 
        development tax credit, and through other means;
Whereas the development of new drugs is important because the use of such drugs 
        enables people to live longer and lead healthier, more productive lives;
Whereas citizens of other countries should pay a portion of the research and 
        development costs for new drugs, or their fair share of such costs, 
        rather than just reap the benefits of such drugs; and
Whereas many State governments are undertaking a variety of plans to address the 
        needs of citizens who lack affordable drug coverage: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the cost disparity between identical prescription drugs sold in the 
United States, Canada, and Mexico should be reduced or eliminated.
                                 &lt;all&gt;

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