Dexter seeks broader federal recall powers for all drug types in new House bill

U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter has authored a bill in the House that would expand federal recall authority to include all pharmaceuticals, aiming to bolster safety and oversight in the drug market, the U.S. Congress reports.

Introduced as H.R.7980 on March 18, 2026, during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress, the proposed legislation is summarized below based on the bill’s official text, with provisions clarified for understanding.

The bill proposes to revise the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, extending recall authority from just controlled substances to all drugs. This would be accomplished by replacing references to “controlled substances” with “drugs,” allowing the authority to halt distribution and enforce recalls across all pharmaceuticals. The bill also revises procedures for notifying stakeholders and addresses imports and exports of drugs. Additionally, it designates the Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research as a participant in these measures. These changes are intended to tighten regulations and improve overall drug safety. The effective date for the changes is not provided in the text.

Rep. Maxine Dexter (Democrat-OR-3rd District) sponsored the legislation independently.

Since this session began, Rep. Dexter has introduced nine additional bills, with one bill ultimately passing.

Congressional bills can be introduced in either chamber of Congress, except for those involving revenue, which must originate in the House. Once proposed, bills are referred to committees for analysis, public hearings, possible modifications, and debate. To become law, identical versions must pass both chambers before proceeding to the president for approval or veto. Congress functions in two-year periods, known as terms, each divided into two annual sessions. Congress.gov provides official records and explains the legislative process.

Maxine Dexter represents Oregon in the U.S. House and was elected as a Democrat to the 119th Congress. She formerly served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2020 to 2024 and earned her B.A. and M.D. at the University of Washington.

Information in this article is sourced from the U.S. Congress. Original data is available here.