Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.R. No. 47 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to make safe, affordable prescription drugs accessible to all United States residents through reimportation and other means, by urging Congress to establish as an immediate priority, the passage of legislation to permit the purchase of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries in order to reduce costs for consumers.

Testimony in support of this resolution was received from the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, and AARP.

Your Committee finds that the costs of prescription drugs have been escalating during recent years, and are no longer affordable for many people. Pharmaceutical companies have been reaping huge profits, while consumers are being victimized.

Identical drugs purchased in Canada and other countries are much cheaper, but their importation is generally not permitted by the Food and Drug Administration. Yet research indicates that the drug approval system in Canada is as stringent as in the United States, so the safety of American consumers is not jeopardized. Exceptions have been granted in some states to allow the purchase of brand-name drugs from Canada for state employees and retirees, but recently Illinois was denied this exception.

Your Committee finds that it is urgent that Congress pass pending legislation that would legalize the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada and other industrialized countries that can meet regulatory requirements, to ensure that consumers and government agencies have access to safe prescription drugs at reasonable costs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 47 and recommends its adoption.