Sens. Joe Manchin and Marco Rubio introduced a bipartisan bill on Friday that would block federal funds from being used to buy and distribute tools …
Sens. Joe Manchin and Marco Rubio introduced a bipartisan bill on Friday that would block federal funds from being used to buy and distribute tools used to take drugs, like crack pipes and syringes. The Preventing Illicit Paraphernalia for Exchange Systems Act, or PIPES Act, was announced by Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, and Rubio, a Republican from Florida, in a press release. “Every American and West Virginian has been impacted by the drug epidemic that has killed over 101,000 Americans from April 2020 to April 2021,” Manchin said. “While this is a heartbreaking issue that must be fully addressed by the federal government, using taxpayer funds to buy paraphernalia for those struggling with substance use disorder is not the solution.” “Everyone knows someone who has struggled with addiction, and unfortunately, many have lost a loved one from the disease,” Rubio said, adding: “We need to do more, but sending drug paraphernalia to addicts is not the answer.
