News

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) spoke on the Senate floor after Senate Democrats blocked his amended Cutting Rampant Access to Crack Kits (CRACK) Act. The bill would have amended Section 2706 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) to prohibit any funds to procure, supply, or distribute pipes or cylindrical objects that are used to smoke or inhale illicit narcotics.
 
See Rubio’s floor remarks here. 

Rubio introduced the bill last week after 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. The Biden Administration subsequently denied the reporting, prompting the outcry of activist groups. In a statement, the Drug Policy Alliance accused the Biden Administration of “backtracking” by saying “they will no longer be allowing federal funding to go towards putting pipes in safer smoking supplies.” The group also argued “pipe distribution is healthcare” and Senate Democrats argued that items like cylindrical tubing is essential to fighting addiction. 
 
Rubio efforts to end illicit drug use: 

• On February 14, 2022, Rubio and Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Illicit Paraphernalia for Exchange Systems (PIPES) Act to prohibit federal funding from being used to purchase drug paraphernalia, such as crack pipes or needles for illicit drugs, that can exacerbate substance use disorder.  
• On February 10, 2022, Rubio introduced the Cutting Rampant Access to Crack Kits (CRACK) Act. The bill would amend Section 2706 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) to prohibit any funds from directly or indirectly purchasing, supplying, or distributing crack pipes or similar drug paraphernalia. 
• On December 16, 2021, Rubio introduced the Domain Reform for Unlawful Drug Sellers (DRUGS) Act (S. 3399) to provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to suspend websites run by criminal networks that traffic fentanyl, counterfeit medications, and other illegal drugs. 
• On December 21, 2020, Rubio voted to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133), which appropriated $4 billion – an $85 million increase – to prevent opioid addiction, help those struggling to receive treatment, find alternative pain medications, meet workforce needs, and improve behavioral health.
• On October 3, 2018, Rubio voted to pass the Senate’s Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act (P.L. 115-271), which included two Rubio provisions: the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act and the Sober Home Fraud Detection Act.