Stop Illicit Drug Importation Act of 2018

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5752) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of certain drugs, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

I rise in support of this important piece of legislation. This bill will get FDA the tools the agency needs to intercept illicit substances coming through our country's international mail facilities. Illicit and unapproved drugs entering the U.S. supply chain through these facilities pose serious public health threats.

Hundreds of millions of parcels go through the IMF facilities each year, and it has been reported that the number of packages processed by the Nation's nine IMFs nearly doubled from 2013 to 2015. These facilities now receive more than 275 million packages annually.

Although the FDA has increased the number of investigators it has in the facilities, it is estimated that the FDA can only physically inspect less than 0.06 percent of the packages that might contain drugs or drug products.

In conjunction with H.R. 5228, led by Representative Pallone and passed by the House yesterday, this bill will give the FDA the flexibility and the tools the agency needs to effectively and efficiently seize illicit or unapproved drugs, and to prohibit bad actors from continuing to ship these deadly products into the country.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to help stop the entrance of illegal opioids and other drugs that might harm Americans.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source