DeGette Hails Senate’s Passage Of Bipartisan Drug Quality And Security Act

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) hailed the passage of H.R. 3204 The Drug Quality and Security Act by the U.S. Senate. The House passed the legislation on September 28. The legislation was the result of intensive bipartisan, bicameral efforts to help ensure the safety of compounding drugs and help save patients' lives.

DeGette and her colleagues, Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), led the House efforts after a series of hearings last fall in the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations into the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak. The outbreak, which killed 64 and sickened over 750, was linked to tainted steroid injections from the New England Compounding Center (NECC). The hearings demonstrated the critical need for better oversight of the compounding pharmacy system. DeGette's statement is as follows:

"I am so proud of the bipartisan, bicameral effort behind the passage of the Drug Quality and Security Act. The deadly fungal meningitis outbreak that sickened hundreds across the United States last year represented a tragic failure of the compounding drug manufacturing system and made clear we must have a stronger and more effective oversight of that system. This legislation will take important steps forward to develop a more robust regulatory framework that can save people's lives.

"I know my House colleagues Reps. Griffith and Green join me in looking forward to the President signing this bill into law and to continuing to work to ensure we take every step possible to secure the compounding drug manufacturing chain."

The bill passed both the Senate and House by voice vote. It now goes to the President to be signed into law.