[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 162 (Monday, December 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ASTHMA INHALERS RELIEF ACT OF 2012

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                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2012

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I support the Asthma Inhalers 
Relief Act, H.R. 6190. This bill is simple; it will allow remaining 
stocks of Primatene Mist to be made available to asthma patients. This 
is a drug that was on the shelves for decades, but was removed due to 
environmental concerns regarding CFCs. Primatene was not removed due to 
safety concerns.
  Limiting releases of CFCs is important and we must make sure that 
consumer products do not contain these harmful chemicals. However, the 
small remaining amount of Primatene poses no real threat to the 
environment and could potentially save the lives of Asthma patients in 
the midst of an attack. Right now there are no over-the-counter rescue 
inhalers available.
  Releasing the remaining doses of Primatene is a temporary solution 
until a non-CFC inhaler is approved by the FDA. I have heard from 
constituents of mine who would greatly benefit from access to this 
medicine. If these inhalers endangered their safety, of course, it 
would not be appropriate to put them back on the shelves, but that is 
not the case.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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