Closing A Loophole That Blocks Pharmaceutical Competition

Floor Speech

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Ms. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, today, I urge my colleagues to pass the Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act, which will close a loophole that blocks pharmaceutical competition and prevents innovative treatments for opioid abuse disorders from coming to the market.

The opioid crisis in this country, as you know, is very serious, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. Because the pandemic and all of its underlying issues--fear of the virus, increased economic hardship, and the challenges of staying at home and maintaining a safe distance--opioid abuse disorders are skyrocketing, and the epidemic has taken a toll on communities in every corner of the country.

I am proud to co-lead this piece of legislation and that our Democratic majority pushed ahead with bringing it to the floor again for a vote amid last week's partisan attempts to hold this legislation hostage, because fighting the opioid epidemic cannot wait any longer.

In the past 20 years, we have seen a drastic increase in opioid addiction, with nearly every State in the Nation seeing a spike in overdose deaths. Passing our Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act will help curb the senseless loss of life by expanding treatment options and driving down costs of new medicines.

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