Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) on Wednesday proposed an extension of a provision included in last year's homeland security spending bill that allows U.S. residents to bring back lower-cost prescription medications from Canada without the drugs being seized by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. Vitter, along with Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), hopes to include the provision in the 2008 spending bill.

"Our seniors are paying too much for their prescription drugs and are turning toward Canada simply because it's cheaper. Our customs and border agents should be focused on securing our border and not consumed with harassing senior citizens bringing their prescriptions across the border," Vitter said. Vitter said the provision would allow U.S. residents to import drugs from Canada if the drugs are for personal use, are carried personally across the border and are no more than a 90-day supply. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America continues to fight reimportation. PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin said that no one can guarantee the safety of imported drugs (Alpert, New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/26).