January 31, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 211 we do about it? Let me say at the out- made by the same company, often ac- Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair. set, I want the pharmaceutical indus- tually made in the and (The remarks of Mr. SPECTER per- try to be successful. I want the drug then shipped 5 miles north into Can- taining to the introduction of S. 2015 companies to be successful. I want ada. Yet, if U.S. consumers were to buy are located in today’s RECORD under them to be profitable. I want them to them in the United States, they are ‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills and continue to invest in new research and charged much higher prices. Joint Resolutions.’’) development to help discover new life- Is that fair? No. If this is truly a f saving medicines and drugs. As you global economy, then it seems to me YONGYI SONG know, the federal government provides that pharmacists in this country ought a substantial investment in pharma- to be able to access those same drugs Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I want ceutical research and development in any market in the world and pass to say a few words about a distin- through the National Institutes of the savings on to their customers. That guished Pennsylvanian, the librarian Health and tax credits. A substantial would, in my judgment, force the phar- from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, amount of research and development maceutical industry to reprice their Mr. Yongyi Song, who was greeted tu- for new medicines is publicly funded. products in the United States. multuously in Philadelphia on Satur- But the pharmaceutical industry does As I said when I started, I want the day afternoon when he returned from private research and development. pharmaceutical industry to make the People’s Republic of China after I want them to be successful. But I money. I want them to do good phar- having been held in custody there since also want them to price pharma- maceutical. The Wall Street Journal August 7. ceutical drugs fairly for all of the calls the profits of the pharmaceutical Mr. Yongyi Song came to the United American people. In virtually every industry ‘‘the envy of the corporate States some 10 years ago and has be- other country in which you purchase a world.’’ Why? At least in part, it seems come a world-renowned scholar on the prescription drug made by a pharma- to me, it is because the U.S. consumer . In addition to his ceutical company in a plant inspected is charged very, very high prices for regular duties at Dickinson College, he by the Food and Drug Administration, the same drug that is marketed in the has published extensively on the Cul- the same pill in the same bottle made rest of the world at a much lower cost. tural Revolution. by the same company costs double, I have introduced a piece of legislation, Last August, he and his wife Helen sometimes triple the amount in the the International Prescription Drug made a trip to the People’s Republic of United States than in virtually any Parity Act, that I and a bipartisan China so that he could continue his re- other country in the world. I will give group of cosponsors are going to try to search. While there, he was taken into you some examples. get passed in this Congress to address custody on August 7. Thereafter, his Let me go back to some of the medi- this problem. wife was released, but on Christmas These issues of pharmaceutical drug cations most frequently used by older Eve he was charged with transmitting costs and a prescription drug benefit in Americans who consume a third of the state secrets. Medicare are very important issues. prescription drugs in our country. If A careful analysis of the case raises Lifesaving medicine is only able to they take Zocor, a cholesterol-reducing very severe questions as to whether save lives if people can afford to have drug, the same drug in the same dosage there was ever any substance to the access to that medicine. Too many and quantity costs $106 in the United charges. A campaign was waged by Americans find these prices are out of scholars and academicians and by col- States, and only $43 in Canada, $47 in their reach. Too many senior citizens Mexico. These prices have been con- leges and universities across the land living on fixed incomes are finding to obtain his release. Dickinson Col- verted to U.S. dollars. they are not able to afford the medi- Or Prilosec, a drug for ulcers costs lege retained a very distinguished at- cines that are necessary for them to $105 in the U.S., $53 in Canada, and $29 torney, Jerome Cohen, an expert in prolong their lives, to improve their in Mexico. Chinese affairs, who took up the cause. lives, and to treat their diseases or ill- Zoloft, a drug for depression, costs A resolution was submitted last ness. We in Congress can do something $195 in America, $124 in Canada, and Wednesday by this Senator with quite about that. But I would say this. Even $155 in Mexico. The list goes on. a number of cosponsors—Senator as we try to add a prescription drug This chart shows it better. How much BIDEN, the ranking member on the For- do we pay for prescription drugs? For benefit to Medicare, we must find a eign Relations Committee, being the every $1 that American consumers pay way to put some downward pressure on principal cosponsor; in addition, Sen- prescription drug prices and provide for a prescription drug, that same drug ator SANTORUM and others. would cost much less in other nations. some fairness relative to what the rest After consultation with Secretary of For every dollar Americans spend for of the world pays for the same prescrip- State Albright and others in the State prescription medications, Canadian tion drugs. Department, I sought a meeting with Mr. President, I again thank the Sen- consumers pay 64 cents, the English the Chinese Ambassador, which I had ator from Iowa for the courtesy. I pay 65 cents, the Swedes pay $68 cents, last Friday late in the morning. know the bankruptcy bill is on the and the Italians pay 51 cents. Before going to the meeting, I heard floor. rumors that Yongyi Song might be re- Why do U.S. consumers pay the high- I yield the floor. est prices in the world for prescription Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, par- leased. While I met with the Chinese drugs? The answer is because the phar- liamentary inquiry: Are we still in Ambassador, I was delighted to find maceutical industry can charge as morning business? that he handed me a piece of paper an- much as they want if they choose to do nouncing Mr. Song’s release, and gave so —and they do. f me the word that Mr. Song would soon I took a small group of senior citi- EXTENSION OF MORNING be on a Northwest airliner headed for zens to Emerson, Canada, recently. BUSINESS Detroit, and ultimately for Philadel- They purchased prescription drugs at The PRESIDING OFFICER. It would phia. the pharmacy in Emerson. These are be appropriate to extend morning busi- We thank the People’s Republic of senior citizens with heart disease, ness. Under the order we are to go to S. China and we thank the Chinese Am- osteoporosis, diabetes, and other ill- 625. bassador for Mr. Yongyi Song’s release. nesses. Guess what. We went 5 miles Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask We regret that he ever was taken into across the border into Canada and unanimous consent that I may speak custody. But when he returned and there they could buy the same pre- for up to 15 minutes as in morning commented to the news media, on a scription drugs at a small percentage business. galaxy of cameras—both television and of the price of the prescription drugs in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without still cameras—and to many newspaper this country. These are the same pills, objection, it is so ordered. reporters, Mr. Song commented that he

VerDate jul 14 2003 09:16 Jul 30, 2004 Jkt 029102 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\S31JA0.000 S31JA0 212 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE January 31, 2000 was not physically abused. He said he from members of Congress who threatened to I say, bring my wife in. But then they be- was subjected to a good bit of mental hold up vital trade legislation, and from come suddenly silent. They said, O.K., we torture. He disputed the representa- Western scholars who campaigned for his move on to the next topic.’’ tions by the People’s Republic of China freedom. He said the experience of the last several Scholars had warned that his arrest threat- months was far worse than his experience that he had confessed or implicated ened to jeopardize academic exchange pro- during the Cultural Revolution, when he was others. But as Shakespeare would say, grams that China had carefully cultivated arrested and branded a counter- ‘‘All’s well that ends well.’’ with the United States and other Western revolutionary. It has been reported that this is the countries since the late 1970’s. ‘‘In the 1970’s, I was beaten, I was tor- first time there has been a release of ‘‘I say thank you to all the American peo- tured,’’ he said. ‘‘But this was worse. With anybody who was charged with stealing ple, because without them I cannot get re- physical torture, they torture only you. This state secrets. It is my hope that this is leased,’’ Mr. Song said, his eyes brimming time, they arrest, and they try to mentally a significant step forward for the Peo- with tears, which he said were among the torture my wife. As a man, you feel so bad.’’ first he had shed since childhood. ‘‘During ple’s Republic of China to recognize Mr. Song, who has bladder cancer that is in the past 30 years, I never cry, but last night remission, said that he had repeatedly asked human rights. In an era when the Peo- I cry all night.’’ to see a doctor, but that his guards refused ple’s Republic of China is seeking per- He was met at the airport by his wife, without explanation. ‘‘My health condition manent most-favored-nation status and Helen Yao, a jewelry designer, and Senator is not very good, and I asked them several seeking entry into the World Trade Or- ARLEN SPECTER, the Repub- times if I could get doctors to examine me, ganization, it is my hope that they will lican who introduced legislation demanding but they wouldn’t,’’ he said ‘‘As soon as I get accept at least minimal norms for due Mr. Song’s release and granting him imme- home, I should see a doctor and get a full process, so that if someone is taken diate American citizenship. He also threat- body examination.’’ into custody, that person is entitled to ened to block legislation intended to make As he set off from the airport after the way for China’s entry into the World Trade news conference, Mr. Song was asked what confer with counsel, should be entitled Organization. he would do when he arrived home in Car- to notice of the charges, should be enti- Mr. Song and his wife, who is also Chinese- lisle. He did not hesitate. ‘‘I think he will tled to an open trial, and should have born, were detained in August in Beijing, have some sweet talk with my wife,’’ he said, the requirement that evidence be pre- where he had been gathering yellowing Com- his arm tightly around her shoulder. sented in an open forum before any de- munist Party newspapers and handbills pub- He said Ms. Yao’s confinement in China termination of guilt. lished during the Cultural Revolution, about had changed her. ‘‘My wife became a very The detention of Mr. Yongyi Song which he has written two books and several brave woman, so I’m very proud of her,’’ he from August 7 until January 28, in my articles. Ms. Yao was released in November said. ‘‘Actually this is not her typical char- judgment, was excessive. But we are and forced to leave China without her hus- acteristic. The Chinese government, the Chi- band. nese national security police, they make a glad to have Yongyi Song back at his Mr. Song said today that the documents he weak woman into a brave soldier.’’ duties at Dickinson College and glad had been gathering were published by the Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair and this has ended favorably. We do hope radicals known as the and that this is a first step in a continuing rec- they were available at the time to virtually my distinguished colleague from Iowa. Mr. President, in the absence of any ognition by the People’s Republic of everyone in China. He said there was nothing China to give appropriate consider- secret about them. other Senator seeking recognition, I ation to human rights. ‘‘You can purchase all those in public mar- suggest the absence of a quorum. Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- kets,’’ he said. ‘‘You can purchase those in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The some book stores. This is not national secu- clerk will call the roll. sent that a copy of the article entitled rity.’’ ‘‘Scholar Back in U.S. After China De- The bill clerk proceeded to call the He said he argued the point with his guards roll. tention’’ from The New York Times be over and over again. ‘‘I strongly argue that,’’ Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, I printed in the RECORD. he said in his sometimes broken English. There being no objection, the article ‘‘My question is: If you say this is a secret ask unanimous consent that the order was ordered to be printed in the and I’m leaking the secret, then you should for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. COL- RECORD, as follows: first say all the Chinese people are spies. Be- cause they all touched those. They all know LINS). Without objection, it is so or- [From the New York Times, Jan. 30, 2000] this, not only me.’’ dered. SCHOLAR BACK IN U.S. AFTER CHINA The Cultural Revolution, in which millions f DETENTION of Chinese were persecuted as Mao tried to (By Philip Shenon) consolidate his power and ‘‘purify’’ the Com- BANKRUPTCY REFORM ACT OF PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 29—An American-based munist Party, remains a subject of extreme 1999—Resumed Chinese scholar who had been jailed in China sensitivity to Beijing, which continues to re- for nearly six months returned to the United strict access to official archives of the pe- Mr. SESSIONS. I believe the pending States today to say that he had been ‘‘men- riod. order of business is the bankruptcy tally tortured’’ by Chinese security agents During his early interrogations, Mr. Song bill. who demanded that he confess to espionage said, his guards tried to coerce him with lies. The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is and implicate others. He said they told him that his wife, who was correct. ‘‘They didn’t torture me physically, but I being held in a separate detention center, Mr. SESSIONS. I would like to talk should say that they mentally tortured me,’’ was gravely ill, but that she could be freed about the pending bankruptcy bill and the scholar, Song Yongyi, a research librar- for medical treatment if he confessed to spy- give my full and total support to the ian at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., ing. said after he was reunited with his wife in a ‘‘That was the worst moment of all,’’ he work of Senator GRASSLEY and others. tearful scene at Philadelphia’s international said. ‘‘They say my wife is so sick and so The PRESIDING OFFICER. The airport. ‘‘It was very ruthless.’’ weak, that I should think about my wife and clerk will report the bill by title, since ‘‘When I come back to the United States, I how she could return home quickly.’’ these will be the first comments. really feel at home now,’’ said Mr. Song, who When that did not work, he said, the The legislative clerk read as follows: was taken into custody by the Chinese last guards tried to convince him that his wife A bill (S. 625) to amend title 11, United summer, only weeks before he had been had implicated him in spying and other States Code, and for other purposes. scheduled to be sworn in as an American cit- crimes against the government. ‘‘Every time izen. ‘‘Even though China gave me birth, the they question me, they say, your wife says Pending: United States gave me spirit.’’ such-and-such, your wife identifies such-and- Wellstone amendment No. 2537, to disallow In an airport news conference and in a sep- such,’’ Mr. Song said. claims of certain insured depository institu- arate interview, the 50-year-old librarian, a At one point, he said, security agents told tions. specialist in the documents of the murderous him that his wife had identified him as a Wellstone amendment No. 2538, with re- decade from 1966 to 1976 known as the Cul- member of Falun Gong, the spiritual group spect to the disallowance of certain claims tural Revolution, denied a claim by the Chi- that has been the subject of a vicious crack- and to prohibit certain coercive debt collec- nese government that he was freed after he down recently, and that he had smuggled its tion practices. confessed to spying. literature into China. Schumer/Durbin amendment No. 2762, to ‘‘I did not confess to anything,’’ he said, ‘‘I know nothing about Falun Gong,’’ Mr. modify the means test relating to safe har- crediting his release to pressure on Beijing Song said, ‘‘I say, I believe this is not true. bor provisions.

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