Senator Rick Scott chaired a hearing of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, focusing on concerns about the United States’ dependence on foreign-manufactured generic drugs. The hearing, titled “Bad Medicine: Closing Loopholes that Kill American Patients,” is part of Scott’s ongoing work to address risks in the pharmaceutical supply chain and improve patient safety.
Scott emphasized that the majority of generic drugs and their ingredients used in the U.S. come from China and India. He stated, “The terrifying reality we face is that our nation is completely beholden to Communist China and India for the vast majority of our generic drugs and their ingredients.” He pointed out a significant decrease in domestic drug manufacturing, noting, “In 2024, the U.S. manufactured 37% of its consumed drugs. This number is down from 2002, when it was 83%. In just over 20 years, we have ceded control of our medical supply chain to Communist China and India.”
During his remarks, Scott called attention to national security and public health concerns for all Americans, especially seniors. He said, “This is a national security and a public health issue for seniors and all Americans.” He also referenced incidents such as contaminated Heparin from China between 2007 and 2008 that led to up to 100 deaths in the United States.
Scott shared testimony from Peter Baker, a former FDA inspector: “When I asked Peter Baker…if he would allow himself or his family to take generic drugs made in India or Communist China, he said no, and told us that he believed that Americans were being killed every day from foreign made generic drugs.”
He advocated for using federal purchasing power to support domestic manufacturing: “The federal government is the largest purchaser of drugs in the United States… The buying power of the federal government can move the needle and bring manufacturing for essential drugs back to the United States.” Scott suggested prioritizing certain medications like antibiotics—citing that China supplies 90% of global antibiotic ingredients—as an initial step toward securing supply chains.
Additionally, Scott encouraged policy measures such as Section 232 tariffs on foreign-made generic drugs. “Other steps like the Department of Commerce’s Section 232 investigation could level the playing field for American manufacturers. Section 232 tariffs are for goods that impact our national security, and I can’t think of anything more critical to the health of our seniors than generic drugs. On Friday, I sent a letter to Secretary Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Greer encouraging them to immediately place Section 232 tariffs on generic drugs,” Scott said.
He concluded by reiterating his commitment: “This is a national security and a public health issue for seniors and all Americans. I look forward to this discussion with our witnesses on how we can make sure Americans never have to worry about missing a dose of their medication or the quality of drugs in their medicine cabinet.”
