Pelosi: 'Today's Sweeping, Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Drug Safety Is a Victory for All Americans'

September 19, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on H.R. 3580, FDA Amendments/Improving Drug Safety Act, which passed by a vote of 405 to 7:

'Today's sweeping, bipartisan legislation to improve drug safety is a victory for all Americans.

'Essential to the safety net of our country is the right of every American to know that the prescription drugs they buy are safe. These long overdue reforms will better protect the health of Americans. The bill creates a new Food and Drug Administration initiative to monitor the safety of drugs after they are on the market. It also ensures the FDA acts based on objective information and is not tainted by conflict-of-interest. And it increases penalties against prescription drug companies that violate the FDA standards that keep Americans safe.

'By strengthening drug safety in our nation, we are keeping our commitment to care for America's families.'