(Capitol Hill-AP) -- A bipartisan effort in the Senate is aimed at legalizing prescription drug imports from Canada, and eventually 20 other countries.

Prices of many brand-name drugs in Canada are lower by a third or more. But the White House and Republican leaders in Congress have opposed importing them, out of safety concerns.

Supporters of new legislation introduced today hope to curb those worries by requiring the Food and Drug Administration to inspect U-S importers and foreign exporters.

The bill is backed by Republican Senators John McCain of Arizona, Trent Lott of Mississippi and Olympia Snowe of Maine. Democratic sponsors include Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota.

The bill is one of several in Congress that address imported drugs -- but this one has garnered support from former opponents of legalizing imports.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)