Tom Harkin: “I have high hopes that the Senate will soon vote to enact the Drug Quality and Security Act, the so-called compounding…”

“I have high hopes that the Senate will soon vote to enact the Drug Quality and Security Act, the so-called compounding and trace and track bill. This legislation helps ensure the safety of compounded drug products. It also secures the pharmaceutical supply chain. I am pleased to report that it is the product of excellent bipartisan collaboration on the HELP Committee, where I worked very closely with our ranking member, my good friend Senator Lamar Alexander. It also reflects productive conversations with our colleagues in the House, including Chairman Upton and ranking member Waxman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The House passed this bill on September 28. Now it is our turn to do our part. Title I of the bill addresses drug compounding. This is basically what happened here just over a year ago, when we were shocked to learn one of the worst public health crises that we have experienced in recent years was a meningitis outbreak that claimed the lives of 64 Americans and sickened 651 people in 20 States. You can see the hardest hit were the home State of Senator Alexander, 153; Indiana, 93; Michigan, 264; Virginia 54, New Jersey, 51; Florida 25. Twenty States. A lot of people got really sick. I will be talking in a moment about those that still linger today.…”