Klobuchar, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Import Lower-Cost Prescription Drugs from Canada

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the
Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act
, which would allow Americans to safely import prescription drugs from Canada, lowering costs, increasing access for consumers, and creating more competition in the pharmaceutical market.
“Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs,”
said Klobuchar.
“Our bipartisan legislation would save Americans money by allowing them to import their medications from pharmacies in Canada. Brand-name prescription drugs that we invent here in America cost more than twice as much in the United States as in Canada. Americans deserve better. Building on my legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug costs, I will continue to work to increase competition in the pharmaceutical market so Americans no longer get ripped off by Big Pharma.”
“Congress must take an all-of-the-above approach to lowering the price of prescription drugs. Our commonsense, bipartisan bill would provide Americans increased access to safe, affordable prescription drugs available in Canada, while boosting much-needed competition in the pharmaceutical industry,”
said Grassley.
The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
Klobuchar and Grassley lead two bipartisan bills to promote competition and reduce drug prices, both of which the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously
passed in 2023
. The
Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act
would stop anticompetitive “pay-for-delay” deals that prevent or delay the introduction of affordable generic drugs and biosimilar products. The
Stop Significant and Time-wasting Abuse Limiting Legitimate Innovation of New Generics (Stop STALLING) Act
would prevent Big Pharma companies from abusing petitions with the Food and Drug Administration to slow the approval of more affordable generic and biosimilar medicines.
Senator Klobuchar has been a leading voice in the Senate to lower prescription drug prices and make it easier for generic drugs to come to market. Her
legislation
to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for America’s 50 million seniors was signed into law in 2022. Last year, Klobuchar led bipartisan
legislation
alongside Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Mike Braun (R-IN) to streamline drug patent litigation, encourage fair market competition, and lower prescription drug prices by making it easier for generic and biosimilar companies to enter the market. In 2023, Klobuchar and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), the then-chair and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, reintroduced the
Short on Competition Act
to allow the importation of drugs in the instance of a drug shortage or when there are fewer than five competitors for a drug that has been approved in the U.S. for at least ten years.
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