House Rallies Behind Berry's Proposal for TRICARE Drug Discounts

In a victory for active duty and military retirees, the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a measure today instructing conferees to include a provision in the Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Bill requiring pharmaceutical companies to offer discounts on the TRICARE retail program. I not only helped craft today’s Motion to Instruct, but also sent a letter to conferees last week in support of the provision with forty of my Democratic colleagues.

Requiring pharmaceutical companies to provide these discounts will generate tremendous savings and prevent the Department of Defense from being forced to raise co-payments for active duty and retired military personnel. I am pleased to see my colleagues come together and oppose a longstanding practice that lines the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry by forcing our military heroes to pay extra for their prescription drugs.

Click here for the full press release.