Safeguarding Therapeutics Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5663, the Safeguarding Therapeutics Act, introduced by Representatives Guthrie and Engel. This legislation would extend FDA's administrative destruction authority to counterfeit and other illegal medical devices.

Under current law, the FDA is authorized to destroy certain imported drugs that may pose a threat to public health; however, this authority does not extend to medical devices.

The passage of this legislation during the coronavirus pandemic is especially timely, as we have seen a surge in counterfeit COVID-19 test kits imported to the United States.

But it is not only counterfeit COVID-19 test kits entering our borders and posing risks to U.S. consumers. International mail facilities have also intercepted shipments of illegal contact lenses and combination products in recent years.

This additional authority will prevent shippers from trying to send illegal products back to the United States and may deter future illegal shipments of medical devices.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representatives Guthrie and Engel, for working together in a bipartisan manner to advance this legislation to provide the FDA with the additional tool to protect American consumers against potentially dangerous medical products.

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Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie).

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Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Guthrie for his leadership on this and taking the initiative to get out and understand the issue on the ground and crafting bipartisan legislation to solve this problem and protect American consumers.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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