TO MEMBERS OF THE GRASSROOTS NETWORK:

RE: NRLN 2 Q 2007 LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS REPORT

FIRST, THANKS FOR THE THOUSANDS OF EMAILS AND FAXES SENT THROUGH CAPWIZ ON THE DRUG IMPORTATION ISSUE. WE ARE TURNING HEADS AND OUR BELIEF IS THAT THE S.242 and HR 380 BILLS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF SAFE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WILL GET BACK TO THE FLOOR SOON and WILL EVENTUALLY BE PASSED. THESE BILLS WILL HELP REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES BY AS MUCH AS 35-55%. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR DRUGS (S.250 and HR 4).

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT U.S. DRUG COMPANIES HAVE BEEN CODDLED BY CONGRESS LONG ENOUGH - IT IS TIME THEY GROW UP AND COMPETE IN THE WORLD LIKE EVERY OTHER COMPANY HAS TO, ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

IN MY 1Q 2007 REPORT, I MENTIONED SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THAT WE WERE MAKING PROGRESS. WELL, WE WON ONE!

MARTA BASCOM, THE NRLN'S LEAD FOR LOBBYING IN WASHINGTON MET WITH THE AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE STAFF IN APRIL TO STATE OUR CASE FOR ADDING FDA STAFF AND FUNDING TO REDUCE THE 18 MONTH BACKLOG OF GENERIC DRUGS IN THE FDA APPROVAL PIPELINE. ON 7/15 WE WERE ADVISED THAT THIS BILL WILL CONTAIN FUNDING OF $7,500,000 TO STAFF 18 NEW POSITIONS IN THE FDA GENERIC DRUG APPROVAL SECTION. AS YOU KNOW WE CAN GET DISCOUNTS UP TO 90% + BY USING GENERIC DRUGS VS BRANDED DRUGS.

THERE IS ONE VERY IMPORTANT MATTER ON PENSION REFORM THAT WE ARE LOBBYING TO GET DONE THROUGH A CHANGE TO ERISA. COMPANIES STILL CAN RAID PENSION PLANS TO PAY LAYOFF AND SEPARATION ALLOWANCES AND THERE ARE EXAMPLES WHERE BILLIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM NRLN MEMBERS’ PENSION PLANS. LATER, WHEN STOCK MARKETS TUMBLE THESE PLANS EASILY FALL BELOW THE MINIMUM ERISA FUNDING REQUIREMENT AND CAN BE TURNED OVER TO THE PBGC. THIS HAPPENED TO UNITED AIRLINES.

THE NRLN, IN ADDITION TO LOBBYING CONGRESS FOR A CHANGE TO ERISA, HAS FILED A LETTER OF COMMENT WITH THE TREASURY AND IRS. THE TREASURY AND IRS IS CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIVE STUDIES AND IS INTERESTED IN THESE TYPE PROBLEMS.

ON OUR MAJOR OBJECTIVE OF STEMMING THE REDUCTIONS IN HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE AND LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS, WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE BROAD CONCEPTS OF HR-1322 AND ARE PRESSING TO GET A BILL SPONSORED TO GUARANTEE CONTINUED PAYMENT OF THE DOLLAR COST OF HEALTHCARE AT RETIREMENT - THIS IS CALLED THE "MAINTENANCE OF COST PAYMENT" (MCP). OUR NRLN "HEALTH CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE" (HCAC) IS CLOSELY FOLLOWING AND EVALUATING THE VARIOUS HEALTHCARE REFORM PLANS BEING PROPOSED. MARTA AND MICHAEL CALABRESE, THE NRLN'S ATTORNEY, ARE JOINTLY ADVISING THIS COMMITTEE AND LOBBYING ON THESE MATTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT WHEN YOU ARE ASKED TO EMAIL CONGRESS - WATCH FOR CAPWIZ EMAIL MESSAGES and .. WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND ASK THAT YOU ASK OTHERS TO GO TO http://www.nrln.org TO JOIN YOU and YOUR FRIENDS IN THE GRASSROOTS NETWORK.

THANKS AGAIN

BILL KADEREIT

NRLN - LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS