Congressman Morgan Griffith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, delivered an opening statement on July 15 at a markup session considering three bills aimed at combating the illicit drug crisis. The session focused specifically on legislative measures targeting the growing threat posed by pill presses.
Griffith said, “Today’s markup will focus on a few bills that work to combat the illicit drug crisis facing our communities, specifically targeting the growing threat posed by pill presses.” He outlined that these bills would create a regulatory framework allowing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to oversee a closed system of distribution for pill presses and their critical parts in a manner similar to controlled substances.
He said this approach would ensure legitimate users can access pill presses for intended purposes while giving DEA tools to monitor suspicious orders and prevent diversion for illegal production of counterfeit pills. Among the proposed legislation is H.R. 5880, the Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act led by Representative Hageman from Wyoming. Griffith said this bill “would establish requirements for serial numbers, record keeping, and transaction reporting for pill presses and their critical parts.” Another measure discussed was H.R. 7184, the Preventing Rogue Equipment for Synthetic Substances (PRESS) Act led by Representative McDowell from North Carolina. Griffith said it “would criminalize the importation of pill press equipment with the intent to illicitly produce a controlled substance.” The third bill addressed was H.R. 8005, Stop Pills that Kill Act led by Representative Evans from Colorado; Griffith stated it “would apply enhanced criminal penalties to those who engage in the illicit manufacture of fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, or fentanyl related substances,” and direct DEA efforts against counterfeit pills containing synthetic drugs.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee focuses on legislation concerning energy policy, health care issues including pharmaceutical pricing reforms, environmental protection initiatives such as energy innovation efforts, telecommunications matters like broadband deployment, consumer protections and more, according to the official website. The committee stands as one of the oldest standing committees in Congress with origins tracing back to its formation as Committee on Commerce and Manufactures in 1795.
Griffith concluded his remarks stating: “I look forward to continuing to work on these policies and bringing them to the full Committee.”