Ensuring Compliance Against Drug Diversion Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1899, the Ensuring Compliance Against Drug Diversion Act.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is charged with regulating controlled substances and manages access to these substances through a registration system. This system is meant to identify entities that manufacture, distribute, and dispense controlled substances, such as opioids; as well as to prevent diversion of these substances. We rely on the DEA to maintain the integrity of this system as one way to stop illicit diversion before it starts.

However, a 2018 Government Accountability Office report found over 700 registrants in the DEA's system may have been ineligible for registration under the Controlled Substances Act. In fact, the GAO found that some of these registrants were reportedly deceased, did not possess State-level authority, or were incarcerated for offenses related to controlled substances.

If we are to curb rising substance abuse in the U.S., we must ensure, Madam Speaker, that bad actors are prevented from having access to these substances. The legislation we are considering today would terminate the controlled substance registration of any registrant if the registrant dies, ceases legal existence, discontinues business or professional practice, or surrenders their registration. This bill also codifies DEA authority to ensure accuracy of registrations and limit the transfer of such registrations.

I thank the lead sponsor of this bill, Representative Griffith, for his leadership on this issue.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I also urge support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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