Rep. Bill Keating is introducing legislation to remedy a 2016 decision by Congress that gutted the Drug Enforcement Administration of its ability to slow the flow of opiates.
“An important safeguard fell apart,” Keating said during an appearance on Boston Public Radio today. “We can’t wait to see what happens, so I filed legislation that not only rescinded it but would be retroactive.”
Keating’s bill will be introduced on Oct. 16 and would repeal the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016.
The act made it more difficult for government officials to stop the supply of opiates to corrupt doctors and pharmacies that funneled them to the black market.
It passed with the help of millions of dollars from industry lobbyists that went to key members of Congress.
Keating says the DEA didn’t stand up in opposition to the legislation.
“Committees reach out to the agency that’s involved in this [legislation], and they review it and not only look at the language, but they say, ‘Do we have objection?’ because it can affect our way of dealing with this,” he said. “In that instance, they said they didn’t have objection, so the furthest scrutiny’s going back to why the agency said that, as well.”
Keating said his legislation has earned bipartisan support.
“I’m very encouraged because as I put my bill in in the first instance, I was approached by bipartisan members, people on the Republican side, joining with me,” he said. “The important thing is to act quickly.”
Rep. Keating is a senior member on the Homeland Security Committee and on the House Foreign Affairs committee, serving as Ranking Member on the Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee. To hear his interview in its entirety, click on the audio player above.
