Sens. Amy Klobuchar and John McCain have introduced legislation that would allow people to import personal pharmaceutical drugs from Canada.
The Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act allows individuals to import cheaper drugs in the same dosage, form and potency as drugs in the United States. Americans spent an average of almost $1,000 per person per year on prescription drugs, roughly 40 percent more than the next highest country.
"In Minnesota, we know that Canadians often pay much less for their prescription drugs, but current law prevents Americans from importing these cheaper alternatives and benefiting from these savings," said Klobuchar, D-Minn.
The likelihood of such an ambitious bill passing the chamber at this stage is unlikely, with the Senate having only about three working weeks ahead of the August recess. Klobuchar staffers said they hoped to get something through in the lame duck session after the November election.
"This is a common-sense, bipartisan bill that would mean real savings for families, and that's why Sen. McCain [R.-Ariz.] and I are going to continue to push to get this done," Klobuchar said.
Allison Sherry
