[StBernard] e update 10 24 09

[Westley Annis]

e-update 
10.24.09

 

This month in Congress I  worked to bring about a change in the law that
will ensure affordable and safe  generic medications are made available
sooner, closing a loophole that allows  big-name drug companies to keep
prices high on the medicine that you  need.  I also met with the U.S. Trade
Representative to discuss the  ongoing controversy over Chinese drywall in
our hurricane recovery and called  attention to a recent attempt to weaken
our laws on illegal immigration.

Below you can read about  these and other issues that I'm working on, such
as ensuring transparency in  the drafting of government-run health care
legislation.

 

 David Vitter 

P.S. - Please feel free to forward the newsletter to your friends, neighbors
and business associates, and encourage them to sign up for their own copy by
visiting my Web site at http://vitter.senate.gov/.

 

GETTING AFFORDABLE MEDICINE TO MARKET SOONER
<http://vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressRelease
s&ContentRecord_id=a9aeaded-b5f7-8c3f-0327-de8ee0e2879b&Region_id=&Issue_id=

> 


This month, I joined U.S.  Sen. Jeanne Shaheen to introduce a bill that will
provide patients with faster  access to affordable prescription drugs. The
bipartisan Access to Affordable  Medicines Act would close a loophole some
brand name drug companies exploit  that needlessly and unfairly delays the
entry of safe, lower-cost generic drugs  to the consumer market.  Read more
about the bill here
<http://www.vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressRel
eases&ContentRecord_id=588a5161-f358-c23c-a926-07f361c4a32c&Region_id=&Issue
_id=> . 

HOLDING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
<http://vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Multimedia.Video&Video
_id=a480f4f5-ff80-9c29-a66f-f03579833652&PageNum=1>  


Back in July, we scored a  major victory in the fight against illegal
immigration with the unanimous  approval of my amendment to the Department
of Homeland Security's annual  spending bill that would have ensured the
continuance of the "no-match"  program, which allows prospective employers
to identify illegal workers.   This week, however, that provision was
stripped from the bill during the  House-Senate conference process; this is
clearly a step in the wrong  direction.  You can read more about this
situation here
<http://www.vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressRel
eases&ContentRecord_id=739d9825-fa47-46cb-d368-11e7db034ae8&Region_id=&Issue
_id=> .

KEEPING IMPORTED PRODUCTS TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS AMERICAN PRODUCTS
<http://vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressRelease
s&ContentRecord_id=a5c7bfc8-911e-9383-e487-9677914c8615&Region_id=&Issue_id=

> 


This week, I met with  Ambassador Ron Kirk, the United States Trade
Representative, to discuss  problems with Chinese drywall, which have been a
serious issue for Louisiana  families trying to rebuild their homes after
the devastation of the 2005  hurricanes.  You can learn more about our
meeting here
<http://www.vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressRel
eases&ContentRecord_id=7d725232-ee93-5d56-10e5-148dffaaec29&Region_id=&Issue
_id=>  at my website. 

ENSURING TRANSPARENCY IN THE GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
<http://vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.Articles&Con
tentRecord_id=aa3358f4-bc07-2119-528a-603e6f8b4470&Region_id=&Issue_id=> 

This month, I joined U.S.  Sens. Jim Bunning, Jim DeMint, Mike Crapo, Mike
Johanns, John Thune and Jim  Risch in introducing a resolution that would
change Senate rules to require all  legislative matters, along with a
Congressional Budget Office estimate of their  cost, to be made publicly
available for 72 hours before being considered on the  Senate floor or in
committee.  You can learn more about the resolution here
<http://www.vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressRel
eases&ContentRecord_id=310e290b-a9e2-a8d9-639c-4b3340bc7a63&Region_id=&Issue
_id=> . 

For any other questions or concerns visit my Web site at:
www.vitter.senate.gov.