Last week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., offered a proposal to “amend Section 2706 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to prohibit any funds from directly or indirectly purchasing, supplying, or distributing crack pipes or similar drug paraphernalia. “
At the start of last week, Rubio’s office noted “the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) appeared to confirm that part of the $30 million grant program would go toward ‘smoking kits/supplies,’ which frequently includes crack pipes” though it added the “Biden administration has since said crack pipes will not be part of the so-called safe crack-smoking kits.”
“I am glad the Biden administration acknowledges sending crack pipes to our nation’s addicts is a bad idea,” Rubio said. “It is pure insanity to think the federal government would fund crack pipe distribution. I will introduce legislation in the coming days to make sure this program can never pay for crack pipes, and given the Biden administration’s position I look forward to their vigorous support.”
Rubio brought out the “Cutting Rampant Access to Crack Kits (CRACK) Act” with the support of more than a dozen Republicans in the Senate including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.
The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. House.
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