By Crystal D. Swann
July 25, 2005

Senate Commerce Committee passed S. 1319 (FTC Reauthorization Act of 2005), a bill to reauthorize the Fair Trade Commission July 21, but the bill had a special passenger. Senator Byron Dorgan (ND) successfully attached an amendment that legalizes the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada and other foreign countries. Dorgan, sponsor of the drug reimportation amendment, said he was proposing the amendment to force the issue to the Senate floor. He said he and other supporters of the issue have been unable to pressure the Senate leadership to take up the issue this year. Despite opposition from Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (AK), the committee approved the amendment 13 to 8. The House approved similar legislation.

This comes just four months before enrollment begins on the Administration’s new Medicare prescription drug benefit program. In the wake of the January 2006 launch date, the Administration has mounted a cross-country “bus tour” to generate and promote awareness of the new drug benefit. The new drug benefit program is an “opt-in” program that will provide drug coverage for everyone on Medicare. Those beneficiaries on Medicare and Medicaid, who belong to a Medicare Savings Program, or who receive Social Security Insurance automatically qualify for the extra assistance. So far, local events have occurred in Florida cities of Miami, Margate, Tampa, Orlando, and Palm Beach.