Bill 1185

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       1185
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  Senate
Introduced Date:                   19960227
Primary Sponsor:                   Russell 
All Sponsors:                      Russell and Giese
Drafted Document Number:           bbm\10606jm.96
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:      19960404
Subject:                           New drugs, biological products,
                                   medical devices

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

Senate  19960404  Received from House
House   19960403  Adopted, returned to Senate
                  with concurrence
House   19960328  Committee report: Favorable              24 HIMR
House   19960326  Introduced, referred to Committee        24 HIMR
Senate  19960321  Adopted, sent to House
Senate  19960314  Committee report: Favorable              13 SMA
Senate  19960227  Introduced, referred to Committee        13 SMA

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 28, 1996

S. 1185

S. Printed 3/28/96--H.

Read the first time March 26, 1996.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 1185), memorializing Congress to amend the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO AMEND THE FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL OF NEW DRUGS, BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, AND MEDICAL DEVICES.

Whereas, improving patient access to quality health care is a paramount national goal; and

Whereas, the key to improved health care, especially for persons with serious, unmet medical needs, is the rapid approval of safe and effective new drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and

Whereas, minimizing the delay between discovery and eventual approval of a new drug, biological product, or medical device derived from research conducted by innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies could improve the lives of millions of Americans; and

Whereas, current limitations on the dissemination of information about pharmaceutical products reduce the availability of information to physicians, other health care professionals, and patients and unfairly limit the right of free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; and

Whereas, current rules and practices governing the review of new drugs, biological products, and medical devices by the United States Food and Drug Administration can delay approvals and are unnecessarily expensive. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, memorializes Congress to amend the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Service Act to facilitate the development and approval of new drugs, biological products, and medical devices.

Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, the President of the United States Senate, and the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, all at Washington, D.C.