Reps. Vander Veen, Shaffer, Newell, Mortimer, Kooiman, Garfield, Wenke, Richardville, Stahl, Farhat, Ehardt, Caswell, Taub, Hoogendyk, Julian, Pastor, Brandenburg, Casperson, DeRossett, Hopgood, Hunter, Meyer, Phillips, Voorhees, Palmer, Shulman and Hager offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 169.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States and the Food and Drug Administration to address the issue of the legality of imported drugs from Canada to ensure stability in the prescription drug component of health care and to protect the health of our citizens.

            Whereas, Over the past few years, rapid increases in costs have caused more and more citizens and organizations to investigate the possibility of importing prescription drugs from Canada.  In addition to individual citizens pursuing this on their own, storefront businesses helping people import medicines have developed, and some states have discussed importing certain medications on a very large scale; and

            Whereas, There is considerable uncertainty over the practice of importing prescription medications.  Some insurers will not cover these expenses.  The FDA has repeatedly issued warnings that procuring medicines over the Internet or through other avenues to get drugs from outside the country are practices that could be extremely dangerous to health.  In spite of these formidable obstacles, the interest people have in buying medications at far lower prices than are available in the United States has only grown; and

            Whereas, As this trend continues, companies can be expected to cut their supplies of drugs to Canada.  Such actions could contribute to an imbalance in the marketplace that could cause even more problems in this segment of health care; and

            Whereas, The present situation of uncertainty should not continue.  Whatever Congress and federal policy makers decide to do regarding the importation of prescription medications, whether recognizing this as legal or prohibiting or regulating the practice, a decision needs to be made as soon as possible.  In the meantime, individual citizens, state officials, and private businesses are vulnerable.  Before more serious damage is done, Congress needs to take a stand on this issue; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States and the Food and Drug Administration to address the issue of the legality of imported drugs from Canada to ensure stability in the prescription drug component of health care and to protect the health of our citizens; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the Food and Drug Administration.