[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CFC-CONTAINING INHALERS SHOULD NOT BE BANNED

  (Mr. FOLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I call again the Members' attention to a 
concern I have that the EPA and FDA will ban measured-dose inhalers 
containing CFC that are vitally needed by asthmatics to treat them when 
they are suffering from a lack of air to their lungs.
  The EPA and FDA clearly are on the wrong side of this issue. There 
are over 70 types of inhalers today used by asthmatics at a time of 
critical need. We commend the EPA for attempting to ban CFC in all of 
our products as they have in hair spray, underarm deodorant, car 
refrigeration, air conditioning systems, and other things. But the 
amount of CFC sent into the air by inhalers used by asthmatics is 
minimal and marginal.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. C. Everett Koop joins us in an attempt to block the 
EPA and FDA from embarking on this rule that will have devastating 
consequences to those who suffer from asthma. Thirty million Americans 
suffer from asthma. Thirty million Americans need this vital 
medication. Thirty million Americans asked the EPA and FDA to relax 
this idea and not institute a ban and allow medical science to prove 
that when we do have adequate medication available, we will then take 
those products containing CFC off the market.

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