S.J.R. 2

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RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESSIONAL
2 FACILITATION OF HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS
3 1997 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Lane Beattie
6 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE URGING THE UNITED STATES
7 CONGRESS TO AMEND THE FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT AND
8 THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND
9 APPROVAL OF NEW DRUGS AND BIOLOGICS.
10 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
11 WHEREAS improving patient access to quality health care is a paramount national goal;
12 WHEREAS the key to improved health care, especially for persons with serious unmet
13 medical needs, is the rapid approval of safe and effective new drugs, biological products and
14 medical devices;
15 WHEREAS minimizing the delay between discovery and eventual approval of a new drug,
16 biological product, or medical device derived from research conducted by innovative
17 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies could improve the lives of millions of Americans;
18 WHEREAS current limitations on the dissemination of information about pharmaceutical
19 products reduce the availability of information to physicians, other health care professionals and
20 patients, and unfairly limit the right of free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment to the
21 United States Constitution; and
22 WHEREAS the current rules and practices governing the review of new drugs, biological
23 products, and medical devices by the United States Food and Drug Administration can delay
24 approvals and are unnecessarily expensive:
25 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah urge
26 the United States Congress to address this important issue by enacting comprehensive legislation
27 to facilitate the rapid review and approval of innovative new drugs, biological products, and

1 medical devices, without compromising patient safety or product effectiveness.
2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the Speaker of the
3 United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and to the
4 members of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-30-96 1:49 PM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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