The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to make it easier for Americans to import cheaper prescription medications from Canada, a strong reproach to the Bush administration's recent crackdown on drugs ordered by mail for personal use.
Approved by a 68-32 vote, the measure would prohibit Customs and Border Patrol agents from seizing prescription drugs imported by individuals from Canadian pharmacies by mail or carried over the border.
The Senate proposal, similar to one passed by the House in May, adds to the pressure on drug companies to make U.S. prices more affordable.
Americans -- mostly seniors living on fixed incomes -- spend billions of dollars on mail-order medications for chronic conditions such as high cholesterol and hypertension.
The medications sold by licensed Canadian pharmacies often are identical to those in the U.S. and may even come from the same factory. The big difference is price. Consumers north of the border -- and in most other countries -- typically pay a fraction of what U.S. customers do for brand-name pharmaceuticals.
The Senate measure received broad support from Democrats along with some Republicans, reflecting growing frustration among U.S. consumers, employers, insurers, hospitals and other healthcare providers with prices of brand-name pharmaceuticals.
The measure was introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who has called for an investigation of Customs' seizures of seniors' mail-order medications, and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). Vitter said he wanted Congress to send a message that Customs ought to focus on securing the nation against terrorism -- not "stripping small amounts of prescription drugs from the hands of seniors."
Customs did not respond to requests for comment.
The Bush administration has opposed past calls to ease restrictions on the personal importation of prescription medications, contending that foreign-produced drugs may be unsafe. Some have also contended that controls were needed to prevent terrorists from importing dangerous substances disguised as drugs.
Consumers and consumer advocates hailed the Senate action.
"It's about time," Laguna Niguel retiree Samuel Robert Greenberg said of the Senate vote.
Over the last few months, Greenberg and his wife have had three of seven shipments seized -- marring what he described as otherwise "safe and satisfactory" dealings with Canadian pharmacies.
