Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott is advocating for the passing of the Accelerating Movement of Essential Rx Items to Create Access to National Drug Resources for US Government Services Act (AMERICAN DRUGS Act) to reduce the U.S. reliance on drugs produced in Communist China. The Act aims to incentivize domestic pharmaceutical production, address current and prevent future drug shortages, and decrease the dependency on Communist China for drug supplies. Cosponsors of the legislation include Senators Mike Braun and J.D. Vance.

As the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Subcommittee on Personnel, Senator Scott has been vocal about discontinuing the reliance on products from Communist China, including pharmaceuticals. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed agreement with Senator Scott's concerns during a recent SASC hearing, emphasizing the importance of securing supply chains from manipulation by adversaries.

In an effort to address vulnerabilities posed by the U.S. Government's dependence on Chinese drugs, Senator Scott will engage Defense officials during a hearing in the SASC Personnel Subcommittee to seek a commitment to shift drug procurement to domestic sources.

The AMERICAN DRUGS Act has gained support from organizations such as Securing America’s Medicines and Supply (SAMS) Coalition and the Coalition for a Prosperous America. Senator Rick Scott highlighted the necessity of decreasing reliance on Communist China for essential health products in light of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Act proposes measures that require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to notify agencies when two domestic manufacturers produce a generic drug, grant expedited drug review to the first two domestically manufactured generic drugs, and mandate the purchase of American-made generic drugs by specific agencies when two domestic manufacturers are available. The legislation also includes waiver authority to ensure medication access for all beneficiaries.