Keating to Fill Bill Aimed at Strengthening DEA

William Richard Keating

WASHINGTON – Cape Cod’s congressman plans to introduce a bill that he says would give the Drug Enforcement Agency more authority to crack down on unsafe practices in the pharmaceutical industry.

Bill Keating (D-Bourne) is calling for the repeal of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016. That bill has come under fire following a joint investigation by The Washington Post and 60 Minutes that detailed how the DEA can no longer suspend opioid distributions when suspicious activity is detected.

“We are in the throes of an epidemic, and we need every tool available at our disposal,” Keating said. “We cannot be making it unnecessary harder for our law enforcement agencies to do their job.”

Keating’s office says the bill will be introduced as soon as possible. Congress is not in session at this time.

Keating is a member of the Congressional Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus and the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force.