On May 9 and May 17, 2018, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce ordered 59 bills to be reported related to the nation’s response to the opioid epidemic. Because of the large number of related bills ordered reported by the Committee, CBO is publishing a single comprehensive document that includes estimates for each piece of legislation.
H.R. 5228, the Stop Counterfeit Drugs by Regulating and Enhancing Enforcement Now Act, would require drug distributors to cease distributing any drug that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines might present an imminent or substantial hazard to public health. CBO cannot determine what drugs could be subject to such an order nor can it determine how private entities would respond. Consequently, CBO cannot determine whether the aggregate cost of the mandate would exceed the annual threshold for private-sector mandates.
H.R. 5228 would increase authorization levels, but CBO has not completed estimates of amounts. All authorizations would be subject to future appropriation action.
H.R. 5228 would impose private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). Because CBO is uncertain how federal agencies would implement new authority granted in the bill, CBO cannot determine whether the costs of those mandates would exceed the UMRA threshold.