Bilirakis Launches American-Made Medicine Caucus

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) has launched the new American-Made Medicine Caucus with Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY).

As the name suggests, the Caucus intends to promote policies that would bring the production of medicine and pharmaceuticals back to the United States or friendlier shores, as America has become increasingly dependent on China for drug manufacturing.

The United States imports 90% of generic drugs and ran a $127 billion trade deficit on pharmaceuticals in 2024 alone.

"With our overwhelming reliance on Chinese pharmaceutical products and ingredients, it's imperative that we find ways to increase domestic manufacturing capacity and preserve consumer access to these important and lifesaving products," said Rep. Bilirakis in his press release, adding, "Public health and wellness should not depend on our foreign adversaries, and I look forward to finding ways to address this threat through the Caucus."

Similarly, Rep. Carter said, "China determines whether we have the pharmaceutical products we need in the United States to keep our citizens healthy."

"That is a terrifying reality, one we must address before the next public health crisis. As a pharmacist, I'm launching the American-Made Medicines Caucus with the singular focus of bringing this critical supply chain home, so that we can strengthen our national security, create jobs, and Make America Healthy Again," Rep. Carter continued.

Finally, Rep. Tenney said, "We must continue to support and encourage domestic pharmaceutical medicine production in our country, strengthen our supply chains, reduce our reliance on foreign suppliers, and reinforce our pharmaceutical security."

"I am eager to join Congressman Carter and Congressman Bilirakis in launching the American-Made Medicines Caucus to focus on creating legislative solutions to improve the domestic production of lifesaving medications and antibiotics," Rep. Tenney concluded.

Rep. Bilirakis's colleague, Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL), relaunched the bipartisan Preventive Health and Wellness Caucus with Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) in March. The Caucus aims to identify and highlight how obesity affects American life, not just in terms of health but also in terms of economic cost, and then propose policies to research, prevent, and treat obesity.