IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 225
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the illegal importation of prescrip-
tion drugs severely undermines the regulatory protections afforded to 
United States consumers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 19, 2003
Mr. MEEKS of New York submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition 
to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the illegal importa-
tion of prescription drugs severely undermines the regu-
latory protections afforded to United States consumers, 
and for other purposes.
Whereas the price of prescription drugs is unaffordable, moti-
vating United States consumers to purchase these drugs 
illegally from Canada and other foreign countries; 
Whereas many health experts have concluded that the illegal 
importation of prescription drugs will increase the flow of 
counterfeit drugs, cheap foreign copies of drugs approved 
by the Food and Drug Administration, expired and con-
•HCON 225 IH 
taminated drugs, and drugs stored under inappropriate 
and unsafe conditions; 
Whereas recent public opinion polls show that Americans 
overwhelmingly think that there are numerous safety con-
cerns about drugs being brought into the country that 
are not subject to the same safety standards United 
States consumers are accustomed to; 
Whereas the illegal importation of prescription drugs severs 
the pharmacist-patient relationship; 
Whereas the illegal importation of prescription drugs under-
mines the important doctor-patient relationship and ig-
nores the crucial medical history of the patient; 
Whereas the illegal importation of prescription drugs can 
cause severe medical complications and life-threatening 
conditions; 
Whereas the illegal importation of prescription drugs in-
creases safety concerns that have been voiced by numer-
ous Federal officials (including 2 former Secretaries of 
Health and Human Services and 10 former Food and 
Drug Commissioners), the United States Custom Service, 
the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 
Whereas safe and effective medication management by phar-
macists is enormously compromised when prescription 
drugs are treated as just another retail commodity, as 
opposed to powerful medications that cure illnesses; 
Whereas United States consumers are unlikely to save money 
from the illegal importation of prescription drugs because 
the intended cost-savings will be absorbed by fees charged 
by exporters and foreign pharmacists, but United States
•HCON 225 IH 
consumers will certainly bear all the risks of these drugs 
with unknown origins; 
Whereas Canada’s Patented Medicine Pricing Review Board 
sets artificial price controls on new, innovative prescrip-
tion drugs that have a negative economic impact on 
United States consumers and the United States pharma-
ceutical industry; and 
Whereas Canada’s Patented Medicine Pricing Review Board, 
from an international trade perspective, undermines the 
goals of the North American Free Trade Agreement and 
shifts the entire burden of funding future research and 
development costs onto United States consumers: Now, 
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the illegal importation of prescription drugs 
severely undermines the regulatory protections af-
forded to United States consumers; 
(2) the President should take appropriate ac-
tion to prevent the illegal importation of prescription 
drugs from Canada or any other foreign country as 
a matter of national security and consumer protec-
tion; 
(3) the United States Trade Representative 
should take immediate action to correct the inequi-
ties and discrimination caused by Canada’s Patented 
Medicine Pricing Review Board;
•HCON 225 IH 
(4) the pharmaceutical industry and the health 
care community should begin a nationwide edu-
cational awareness program for United States con-
sumers regarding the dangers of imported drugs and 
medicines; 
(5) the pharmaceutical industry and the health 
care community should work with United States 
consumers to lower the price of prescription drugs; 
(6) it is essential that United States patients 
have access to affordable prescriptions drugs; and 
(7) the Congress should enact a Medicare drug 
benefit as the best and safest way for United States 
patients to obtain their prescription drugs.
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