CITY HALL -- Rep. Max Rose alongside fellow New York Democrat Rep. Antonio Delgado introduced legislation Wednesday, known as the Save Lives Act, that would ban opioid drug manufacturers’ corporate PACs from supporting federal candidates.
“After poisoning our children and killing our loved ones, opioid manufacturers should not be able to flood Washington with corporate PAC money to buy protection from prosecution,” Rose said. “We must end the corruption and work to bring justice to those impacted by their reckless and dangerous actions.”
The lawmakers said that in the 2018 election cycle, 1,732 corporate PACs gave more than $400 million to federal campaigns, more than any other type of PAC. Those PACs also contributed more than $185 million directly to candidates.
The introduction of the bill comes as the opioid crisis continues to plague the borough.
As opioid overdoses dipped citywide last year, overdose deaths on Staten Island continued on an upward trend, recent Health Department data showed.
Citywide, there were 38 fewer overdoses in 2018 compared to the previous year, but Staten Island experienced a 13% jump in overdoses in 2018, from 90 deaths in 2017 to 102 deaths in 2018.
“Addressing the opioid crisis must also include rooting out the corrupting influences that perpetuate it. The opioid crisis is deeply prevalent in New York, especially in our rural communities, and yet pharmaceutical companies and special interests continue to have free rein to advance their agenda by lining the pockets of lawmakers in Washington,” Delgado said. “The Save Lives Act will take important steps to limit the influence of opioid manufacturers and make sure our Representatives work for the people they serve—not special interests.”
Rose has also urged the U.S. Department of Justice to formally bring criminal charges against Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family that owns it.
Additionally, the Island congressman legislation that would sanction drug manufacturers in China who provide fentanyl to traffickers.
“Eliminating Big Pharma’s stranglehold over Congress is a powerful step in addressing the opioid crisis,” said End Citizens United Action Fund President Tiffany Muller. “For too long, Big Pharma and its unlimited money has prevented action and progress on issues that affect the lives of the American people. Rep. Delgado and Rose’s bill is common-sense legislation that will prevent the companies perpetuating the opioid epidemic from buying off politicians. End Citizens United thanks Reps. Delgado and Rose for their continued leadership and commitment to rooting out Big Pharma’s undue influence over our politics.”
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