[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 113 (Friday, July 6, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 5228 STOP COUNTERFEIT DRUGS BY REGULATING AND 
                 ENHANCING ENFORCEMENT NOW (SCREEN ACT)

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 6, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5228, 
the Stop Counterfeit Drugs by Regulating and Enhancing Enforcement Now 
Act, or the SCREEN Act.
  Mr. Speaker, one way the nation can express its concern for our 
citizens' health is by addressing the issue regarding counterfeit drugs 
and synthetic opioids.
  Among other things, H.R. 5228 will strengthen the ability of the Food 
and Drug Administration to combat counterfeit drugs, illegal and 
synthetic opioids, and opioid-like substances.
  Because the capabilities of counterfeit drugs and opioids are rapidly 
and continuously evolving, there is no single technology that provides 
long-term assurance of drug security.
  H.R. 5228 will implement new, holistic technology to better protect 
our drug supply.
  Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin.
  All opioids are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors 
on nerve cells in the body and brain.
  According to a recent study, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) report there were 63,632 drug overdose deaths in 2016 
in America, 42,249 of which were related to opioid overdoses.
  This issue directly affects my state of Texas, because in 2016, there 
were 1,375 opioid-related overdose deaths, according to the National 
Institute on Drug Abuse.
  In the city of Houston alone, there were 364 drug-related overdose 
deaths.
  Another issue that H.R. 5228 will address is the prevalence of 
counterfeits, or fake medicines which are produced and sold with the 
intent to deceptively represent its authenticity or effectiveness.
  Fake medicine may contain harmful or inactive ingredients that harm 
users, or might have the right active ingredient but at the wrong 
dosage.
  Counterfeit drugs are illegal and can be harmful to your health.
  Mr. Speaker, critics of the FDA say the entire screening system is 
underutilized and filled with incomplete and late information.
  By enacting H.R. 5228, the FDA will have the authority to combat the 
scourge of opioids and counterfeit drugs.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5228.

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