COMMENT OF SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY
On The Administration's Proposed Prescription Drug Plan
Mon., Oct. 21, 2002

“The Senate bill to reform the FDA’s prescription drug approval process was stronger, but these reforms will be helpful, as far as they go.  The House has refused to act on the Senate bill, which passed in a vote of 78 to 21 on July 31.

“But much more needs to be done to help lower the spiraling cost of prescription drugs. These changes do nothing about the problem of the collusion between drug makers that has kept generic drugs off the market.  I will continue to push for action on my Drug Competition Act, which the FTC says it needs to block these sweetheart deals.  The FDA’s new action, together with earlier FTC endorsement of my bill, now puts us in a stronger position to pass the reforms I have proposed.  And the key piece that is still missing in tackling the unaffordability of prescription drugs is a new prescription drug benefit under Medicare.  That remains a top priority in the Senate, and it needs to be a top priority also in the House and in the White House.”

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