Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) released the following statement regarding the pharmaceutical drug distribution security discussion draft released today by the Senate Health Education Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee. The draft is the next step in continued discussion to establish a uniform, national traceability system to secure our pharmaceutical supply chain.
“The track and trace draft proposal is the result of continued, bipartisan, good-faith discussions among a variety of participants. While we still have work to do, I am pleased with this progress and believe if we keep working together we can get this done.
“The Avastin scare earlier this year and the 2008 tainted Heparin incident remind us of the critical need to secure our drug supply chain. Families in Colorado shouldn’t have to worry that the medicine they take when they’re sick will make them sicker – or even worse. We can help by establishing a uniform, national drug traceability system that improves the security and safety of our drug supply chain for consumers.
“I look forward to continuing this bipartisan and bicameral work with members of the Senate HELP Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee under the leadership of Chairman Harkin, Ranking Member Enzi, Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman, and particularly with Senator Burr, who has been a champion of this issue, as well as with the full range of stakeholders, including the FDA, to find consensus on this critically important and complex issue.”
The discussion draft bill can be found here.