Janice Schakowsky (D-IL)
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025 aims to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It seeks to allow for the importation of qualifying prescription drugs by wholesale distributors, pharmacies, and individuals. This would permit the movement of drugs from countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Switzerland into the United States. The bill establishes a certification process for foreign sellers and sets specific requirements for drugs to be considered qualifying. It also provides the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the authority to expand the list of permitted countries based on safety evidence.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +9
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?
The bill permits the importation of qualifying prescription drugs from countries like Canada and the UK to lower costs for consumers.
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
By allowing importation, the bill helps Americans access essential medicines like insulin and dialysis solutions that might otherwise be unaffordable.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Lowering the cost of essential medications provides significant relief to households on low incomes.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Lower Prescription Drug Costs: The bill addresses the finding that prescription drug prices in the U.S. are significantly higher than in comparable OECD nations, which has led many Americans to not fill prescriptions due to cost (Section 2(a)).
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Increased Access to Medications: By allowing the importation of qualifying drugs, individuals can obtain medications such as insulin, peritoneal dialysis solution, and certain biological products that are approved and marketed in permitted countries (Section s 3(a)(5)(B)).
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Improved Safety Through Oversight: The act establishes a system where the Secretary can certify foreign sellers who must participate in quality assurance programs, including blind testing, to ensure drug reliability (Section 3(a)(4)(B)(v)).
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Expansion of Supply Sources: The Secretary has the authority to permit importation from other countries if they meet high standards for drug approval, safety, and manufacturing-process control (Section 3(a)(5)(e)).
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Protection Against Price Discrimination: The bill makes it unlawful for manufacturers to charge higher prices to certified foreign sellers than they charge to people within those same countries, preventing artificial price inflation (Section 3(a)(8)(A)(i)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Specific Substances: Certain drugs, such as controlled substances, anesthetic drugs inhaled during surgery, or compounded drugs, are explicitly excluded from the importation process (Section 3(a)(5)(C)).
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Strict Requirements for Individual Importation: Individuals are limited to importing a maximum of a 90-day supply for personal use and must provide a valid prescription from a practitioner licensed in a U.S. State (Section 3(a)(4)(2)).
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Risk of Supply Suspension: The Secretary can immediately suspend the importation of specific drugs, sellers, or importers if there is a pattern of noncompliance or if the products are found to be recalled or in violation of the act's requirements (Section 3(a)(11)(1)).
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Potential Penalties for Internet Sales: Individuals or entities operating via the internet face significant legal consequences, including up to 10 years in prison or fines up to $250,000, if they sell adulterated, counterfeit, or drugs without a valid prescription (Section 3(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — The bill permits the importation of qualifying prescription drugs from countries like Canada and the UK to lower costs for consumers. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By allowing importation, the bill helps Americans access essential medicines like insulin and dialysis solutions that might otherwise be unaffordable.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Lowering the cost of essential medications provides significant relief to households on low incomes. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill offers ways to reduce the heavy burden of prescription drug costs on middle-income families. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill specifically includes access to important products like peritoneal dialysis solution.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill establishes quality assurance programs and allows for random drug testing to ensure drug authenticity and safety.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Reducing prescription drug costs can help prevent families from facing financial instability due to medical expenses.
- 10/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/3/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/1/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Steve CohenDemocrat · Tennessee
Greg CasarDemocrat · Texas
Lloyd DoggettDemocrat · Texas
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado
Ilhan OmarDemocrat · Minnesota
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine
Mark PocanDemocrat · Wisconsin