"The pharmaceutical industry is spending millions and millions of dollars to see that this legislation is not passed," Berry said.  "They will stop at nothing, even distorting the truth, to make sure seniors don't have access to the lower prices for prescription drugs that the federal government and other preferred customers have.  We need to set the record straight and make sure the American people know the real facts."

Berry was joined at the press conference by Representatives Tom Allen (D-ME), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Jim Turner (D-TX) and other Members of Congress. Representatives from several organizations including the National Council of Senior Citizens, Families USA, Public Citizen, United Auto Workers, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare also participated calling for passage of the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act.

The Prescription Drug Fairness For Seniors Act introduced earlier this year, allows senior citizens who are medicare beneficiaries to purchase prescription drugs from participating pharmacies at substantially reduced prices.  The legislation achieves these goals by allowing pharmacies that serve Medicare beneficiaries to purchase prescription drugs at the best prices available to the Federal government.  The legislation has been estimated to reduce prescription drug prices for seniors by over 40 percent.  

The pharmaceutical industry has said the Prescription Drug Fairness For Seniors Act extends price controls to the pharmaceutical industry.  In reality, the legislation ends price discrimination.  Under the legislation, companies can set their best price at whatever level they want. 

The industry also says the legislation will force the pharmaceutical industry to reduce research and development expenditures.  Historically, there is no evidence to support the industry's claim that preventing pharmaceutical companies from overcharging for their products reduces research.  In 1984, Congress passed the Hatch-Waxman Act, which increased the availability of generic drugs and provided more competition for brand name drugs.  This legislation did not reduce innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.  According to industry data, over the next five years pharmaceutical companies more than doubled their investment in research and development, from $4.1 billion to $8.4 billion.  

"Consumer groups all across the country are supporting this legislation and I think it's time we passed it," Berry said.  "I represent a District with the highest number of seniors living on Social Security alone and it seems only fair that they be offered the same price for their prescription drugs as the companies' favored customers."