Griffith Statement on Passage of Bills for Public Health

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a series of measures to protect American communities from public health threats. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, helped advance these pieces of legislation or House counterparts through his Subcommittee. Legislation that secured overwhelming House support included:

• S. 2398 – the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act
• H.R. 1266 – the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act
• H.R. 2004 – Tyler’s Law
• H.R. 8005 – the Stop Pills that Kill Act

Following House passage of the bills, Chairman Griffith issued the following statement:

“As a House leader who helped secure the HALT Fentanyl Act into law, I understand the impacts of public health threats. At a time when emerging public health threats ranging from illicit drugs to tickborne illnesses jeopardize the well-being of our country, many of these policies will make American communities safer.

“As Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, I am proud to have advanced these measures that target severe public health threats.”

BACKGROUND

H.R. 1266 classifies xylazine as a Schedule III narcotic. Veterinarians, farmers and ranchers will still be able to legally access the drug to treat large animals.

H.R. 2004 directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help hospital providers use fentanyl testing for emergency room drug screenings.

H.R. 8005 closes a counterfeit pill production loophole in federal statute by imposing new penalties.

Chairman Griffith, who lives with alpha-gal syndrome, helped advance the House version of the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act earlier this year. This bill reauthorizes key programs that develop a national strategy, improve surveillance actions and facilitate agency coordination on tickborne illnesses.