EMERGENCY UPDATE ON. S.1082, Call Your Senators To Oppose the Chochran Amendment Which Would Counter the Dorgan Amendment
IAHF List:
Its 10:13 am Pacific time, 1:13 PM Eastern time, and in my headphones I'm listening to elevator music from CSpan2 waiting for the Senate to vote either for or against the Cochran amendment which would be a "poison pill" that would kill the Dorgan Amendment that we WANTED to pass (which passed earlier today).
The Dorgan amendment allows Americans to import drugs from other countries. I just watched Senator Sanders give an impassioned speach on behalf of poor Americans in which he pleaded with the Senate to vote against the Cochran amendment. He talked about taking busloads of poor Vermonters over the border to Canada, and dramatically recounted observing women with breast cancer who were unable to afford the high price of Tomoxifen break into tears upon seeing that they could buy it for one tenth the cost in Canada.
Please call the Senate RIGHT NOW to say you SUPPORT the Dorgan Amendment, and OPPOSE the Cochran amendment.
(Bush will VETO S.1082 if the Cochran amendment does not pass, and THAT would veto the WHOLE BILL which we NEED to happen to PROTECT DSHEA. We were unable to find ANY Senator with the courage to stand up to the Pharma Cartel to introduce our desired amendment that would have removed the terms "FOODS" and "FOOD INGREDIENTS" from the bill. Senator Durbin did pass an amendment pertaining to food safety that could have language in it that hurts dietary supplements, but whatever they passed isn't available on the web to view.... this is not democracy..... we're clearly living in a POLICE STATE.
Call the SENATE NOW via the Capital Switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to speak with your SENATORS!! The LIFE you SAVE could be YOUR OWN!! Tell your Senator to vote NO on the Cochran Amendment on S.1082!! Majority Leader Reid says he wants to complete work on S.1082 This Week.
For Health Freedom, John C. Hammell, President International Advocates for Health Freedom 556 Boundary Bay Road Point Roberts, WA 98281-8702 USA http://www.iahf.com jham@... 800-333-2553 N.America 360-945-0352 World
Posts: 116 | From Plano, Texas, USA | Registered: May 2004
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sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
Sue-
do you have an updated update? i watched a chunk of CSPAN's coverage in the EST AM-noonish, but not after that. didn't look like anything else major happened/was voted on in the afternoon on the bill= is that accurate?
dilly
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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WASHINGTON -- A push to allow wide-scale importation of lower-priced prescription drugs from Canada and other countries yesterday sidetracked a Senate plan to pass major drug safety legislation.
Senate leaders put off final votes on the drug safety measure until next week after Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) won a procedural vote allowing him to move ahead with the reimportation provision.
Concerned that the provision would jeopardize the larger bill, key lawmakers worked behind the scenes to reach a compromise but reported no progress.
The White House opposes reimportation, saying its inclusion would cause President Bush to the veto the bill because it could result in "unsafe, unapproved and counterfeit drugs" coming into the U.S.
Allowing lower-cost drug im ports also is opposed by the powerful pharmaceutical industry, which sees it undermining its profits and argues it could leave the nation vulnerable to unsafe medicines.
Proponents led by Dorgan insisted drugs could be brought into the U.S. safely under FDA supervi sion, ensuring lower costs for American consumers.
"The fact is, we are paying the highest prices for brand-name prescription drugs in the world, and that's not fair," said Dorgan. "We ought to change that."
The 63-28 vote allowing Dorgan to move forward with his amendment indicated strong support for his plan. In 2004, the Congressional Budget Office found that allowing drug imports could cut drug spending by $40 billion over 10 years.
Opponents are hoping to add a requirement that the FDA first cer tify that imported medicines are safe and effective. Federal health officials since the Clinton administration have refused to make such a certification.
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), a key sponsor of the drug safety bill, warned that Dorgan's amendment "will throw open our borders to drugs that have much higher risks."
"We've come too far and made too much progress in reaching a bipartisan drug safety bill to allow his dangerous loophole in at the last minute," said Enzi. "We all want affordable drugs. But a counterfeit or tainted drug is unsafe at any price."
The overall Senate bill would strengthen the government's drug safety oversight and raise fees paid by the drug and medical device in dustries to review and approve new products.
Key provisions would require the FDA to review the safety of many new, potentially risky medications at 18 months and at three years after approval, and to conduct active, routine surveillance of both public and private medical databases to better track possible harmful side effects of medications.
The bill also would give the FDA power to require pharmaceu tical companies to conduct postmarket drug studies, and set deadlines for revision of drug warning la bels when problems arise.
-------------------- nan Posts: 2135 | From Tick Country | Registered: Oct 2000
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sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
thanks, Nan.
i have been diving into Thomas and the Congressional Record - so seeing lots of trees, but not the whole forest.
dilly
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
UPDATE 10 AM, FRIDAY, MAY 4, 07!
VOTE WILL BE MONDAY ON S 1082! ******************************
CSPAN said just now that at 4 pm today, EST, they will hhave their COMMENTS ABOUT THE BILL, but actual voting will take place monday!
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I see on the web these two recieve lots of monies from Big Pharma and Big Oil and Gas.
As long as its safe we should have the freedom to choose where to buy lower priced prescription drugs, ie from Canada.
Posts: 116 | From Plano, Texas, USA | Registered: May 2004
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posted
YES AND I EMAILED THEM THANKING THEM. ALSO SEE
Amid all the furor over Sen. Kennedy's FDA Revitalization Act, S. 1082, the voices of the people have been heard loud and clear. Here is the actual language amended into the Act, by none other than (surprise!) Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, certainly no fan of supplements: Sen Grassley offered the amendment.
"Sec. X08. Rule of Construction Nothing in this title (or an amendment made by this title) shall be construed to affect-- (1) The regulation of dietary supplements under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act; or (2) The adverse event reporting system for dietary supplements created under the Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act."
The amendment was approved by the Senate, 94 to zero.
This is a testament to the power of grass roots activism, and that means YOU. Please give yourselves a pat on the back. You deserve it!
Peter McCarthy, ND Chair, TX Health Freedom Coalition
Posts: 116 | From Plano, Texas, USA | Registered: May 2004
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nice way to start the weekend off. Kudos to Sue and Nan for bringing this to our attention. Way to go guys.
Posts: 731 | From Humble,TX | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
There are lots of people in MA who can't figure out why he keeps getting voted in!!
Since he was one of the crafters of this bill, along with Clinton, Enzi, et al, he knows full well that if the Dorgan Amendment is passed on Monday, the entire bill S1082 will go down! He will definitely vote no Monday (on the Dorgan Amend.), because Bush has vowed to veto it if it goes through with any mention of imported drugs on the specious argument that they would not be safe for Americans to take.
I haven't heard of any Canadien deaths due to prescription drugs, have you?
-------------------- nan Posts: 2135 | From Tick Country | Registered: Oct 2000
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sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
Nan-
what makes me worried and sad is that after 8 (for me) agonizingly long years, i think dems will retake the WH in 2008 and probably add to their congressional majorities.
and that in terms of helping to determine our basic health and welfare, it won't make one iota of difference.
as they say in the UK upon occasion- The king is dead. Long live the king.
dilly
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
I had a very interesting chat with a pharmacist this AM re: drugs in Canada (where I live).
Bicillin is a restricted drug in Canada. It is possible to access it (before a board) through special access. There are 2 manufacturers that are licenced to sell Bicillin in Canada: King and another one who's name escapes me.
Turns out, worldwide there are other manufacturers - less expensive manufacturers. One of these manufacturers has a Canadian division. Can they give me information about their European Bicillin? Absolutely not. They aren't one of the 2 licenced companies by the Canadian Gov't for this drug - but obviously, the Canadian gov't has enough confidence in them to allow them to provide "other" drugs to Canadians...
Seems to me, that somewhere, someone is making exclusive deals with manufacturers, because exclusivity is so lucrative, if you can keep a market closed...
The whole thing gives me a whiff of the same stuff of when yet some other industrial leader makes a natural resources "deal" with a country like, say, Burma - you just know the leaders on both sides are lining their pockets...there is Something just as Fishy Going on Here Too...just more "stealth"
With best wishes,
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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Cass A
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Member # 11134
posted
Vote's on Monday--Make sure you call in early during business hours to your Senators!!
Love,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
up; call/email your senatrs MONDAY TO VOTE YES ON BILL.
ASK THEM THAT ANTIBIOTICS NOT BE RESTRICTED AFTER CERTAIN TIME LENGTH for us chronic lymies!
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Please call the Senate Monday morning right away to say you SUPPORT the Dorgan Amendment, and OPPOSE the Cochran amendment to S.1082!! S.1082 needs to be DEFEATED!! It will make the drug company's hold on the FDA even more. Call the SENATE business hours on Monday via the Capital Switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to speak with your SENATORS!!
BigPharma is trying to confuse people and get lots of phone calls in support by saying that this will reform the FDA. It will not. Sen. Grassley's bills that WOULD reform the FDA are being held up in the HELP Committee (chaired by Kennedy) and this bill, which won't divorce the FDA from BigPharma influence is being promoted as "reform," which is a lie.
Here' s a section from a previous post:
(Bush will VETO S.1082 if the Cochran amendment does not pass, and THAT would veto the WHOLE BILL which we NEED to happen to PROTECT DSHEA. We were unable to find ANY Senator with the courage to stand up to the Pharma Cartel to introduce our desired amendment that would have removed the terms "FOODS" and "FOOD INGREDIENTS" from the bill. Senator Durbin did pass an amendment pertaining to food safety that could have language in it that hurts dietary supplements, but whatever they passed isn't available on the web to view.... this is not democracy..... we're clearly living in a POLICE STATE.
The LIFE you SAVE could be YOUR OWN!! Tell your Senator to vote NO on the Cochran Amendment on S.1082!!
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
please keep this UP... WE MUST CALL OUR SENATORS TO VOTE NO ON THIS BILL effecting our antibiotics, etc!
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posted
The Front page story in yesterday's New York Times regarding an ingredient used in medicines and imported from China will not bode well for passage of the Dorgan Ammendment today! (people are dying as a result of this import!)
posted
my thought, exactly that story isn't a coincidence. Nonetheless, the FDA works hand in glove with Canada, trying to harmonize our supps, etc. Drugs from Canada should be safe, though. Still, we must have the freedom to choose - meaning if there are lower priced drugs available we should be able to choose. Its the BigPharm trying to hang onto their atrocious prices, 569% markups on Xanax,
posted
Here's an opinion piece. A piece of what is my question. Keep in mind the following before reading. "According to NIH [National Institutes of Health], taxpayer-funded scientists conducted 55 percent of the research projects that led to the discovery and development of the top five selling drugs in 1995." "Rx R&D Myths: The Case Against the Drug Industry's R&D 'Scare Card,'" Public Citizen report, July 23, 2001.
Daily Health Policy Report Opinion | Amendment That Would Allow Prescription Drug Reimportation 'Unsound,' According to Op-Ed [May 07, 2007]
The proposed amendment to the Prescription Drug User Fee Act reauthorization bill (S 1082) that would allow prescription drug reimportation "is unsound," Roger Pilon, vice president for legal affairs at the Cato Institute, writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. Pilon writes that the amendment would "import foreign price controls" on prescription drugs, "thus undercutting the R&D funding that companies need to produce the miracle drugs of the future."
According to Pilon, "Congress, unwilling itself to directly impose price controls on drugs, is trying to do so indirectly by 'importing' foreign price controls" through the amendment. He adds, "If companies are forced by the U.S. government to continue supplying cheap drugs to countries from which they are then reimported to the U.S. -- crowding out the higher-priced domestic supply of drugs -- it's only a matter of time until profits are insufficient to support the enormous costs of R&D for future drugs" (Pilon, Wall Street Journal, 5/7).
Posts: 731 | From Humble,TX | Registered: Feb 2005
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Bill S1082 is a bill that helps fund the FDA with Big Pharma money. It is known all over Capital Hill as Big Pharma-designed legislation. It is running into all sorts of credibility problems. A vote is likely on Monday -- delayed due to all the opposition flooding the Senate by "we the people."
Maybe they are hearing us!!
-------------------- nan Posts: 2135 | From Tick Country | Registered: Oct 2000
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
re: saw the NYT article and thought the same thing.
and i hate to say it, cause i'm going to start sounding like an official member of tinfoil hat society-
but gee, you know,i think the timing of that story wasn't a coincidence.
----- I don't think you're off the mark by suggesting this "dilly". Bill Moyers on PBS has been doing alot of reporting about the news media basically being the lapdog of the Bush adminiatration. Just look at the whole Scooter Libby incident... Judith Miller has (or had) an important position at the NYTimes. ---Not to digress...
These are important concerns for all of us. You'd think the drug companies were making enough as it is. Why are they so GD greedy? It's a dicey question as to whether this is actual poisoning by the Chinese due to carelessness or something more devious. It makes me more sick than I already am!
Thanks for the info!
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Yesterday they passed the Cochran Ammendment which stipulates that the FDA must judge the safety of any drugs from abroad before thay can be given out.
This was an ammendment to the Dorgan Ammendment...and I am not certain whether they passed that or not.
Next week we will know.
-------------------- nan Posts: 2135 | From Tick Country | Registered: Oct 2000
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First off the old folks will continue to be extorted for their meds to keep us safe from FDA approved Canadian drugs thanks to Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) His ammendment would state the drug must be proven safe by the US (which Bush has repeatedly stated cannot be guaranteed.) Latest news on this. http://www.newstarget.com/021834.html
Good news is that Kennedy and Enzi are now on record stating this will in no way affect our dietary supplements. No real debate on the matter. Just a back and forth describing how the american public don't know what they are talking about as they themselves try to understand what they are talking about. I wouldn't say good news exactly. The FDA will interpret it as they seam fit. For full Kennedy and Enzi et all discussion read below. http://www.naturalproductsassoc.org/site/DocServer/05_02_07_Colloquy.pdf?docID=4021Posts: 731 | From Humble,TX | Registered: Feb 2005
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