Kohl Urges Incoming FDA Chief to Make Safe, Affordable Prescription Drugs a Reality

KOHL URGES INCOMING FDA CHIEF TO MAKE SAFE, AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS A REALITY

During a meeting with Dr. Lester Crawford, the President's nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Senator Herb Kohl urged changes in drug reimportation laws to make prescription medicines more affordable. Kohl is the senior Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee and a member of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the FDA's budget. Crawford must be confirmed by the full Senate.

"As Congress continues to debate this issue, the reality is that drug reimportation is already happening," said Kohl. "It's time to stop defending a system that is clearly in dire need of reform, stop issuing reports and setting up new roadblocks, and start providing Americans with prescription drugs that are both safe and affordable."

Since taking the leadership post in January, Senator Kohl has already held a hearing to explore the reimportation issue. A longtime advocate for providing seniors with safe and affordable health care, Kohl is the cosponsor of the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drugs Safety Act, a measure to legalize the safe reimportation of prescription drugs from countries like Canada, Japan, and the members of the European Union.

"As long as the federal government refuses to put a sound regulatory system in place for drug reimportation, Americans are at risk of falling prey to a tainted drug supply," added Kohl. "I look forward to working with Dr. Crawford on making real changes to this problem."

http://kohl.senate.gov/~kohl/press/05/03/2005308B47.html