Bono-Mack Calls for Prescription Drug Abuse Hearings

Congresswoman Mary Bono-Mack (R-Palm Springs), is planning a series of congressional hearings on prescription drug abuse in America.   This comes less than 72 hours after the death of singer Whitney Houston.   

 During an appearance today on CNN's "Starting Point,'' Bono Mack, who
co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse, said she has a
"number of items in the legislative form and some that are more conceptual,
some are putting pressure on the DEA and FDA.''

   "I have a prescriber education bill. I also have a bill that would
limit access to OxyContin, which is one of the most powerful narcotics on the
market,'' she said. 

According to the House of Representatives calendar, there are no such hearing scheduled this month.  

 Bono Mack released a statement Monday on the death of Houston, 48, who
was found underwater in the bathtub of her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel in
Beverly Hills. An official cause of death has not been released. Coroner's
officials said prescription medications were found in her room, but not an
unusual amount.  Broadcast reports say empty beer cans were found next to bathtub where Houston was found.

"Whitney Houston's life certainly will be remembered for her rich,
soulful, unmistakable voice. But perhaps her death can also be remembered as
the turning point in the struggle against prescription drug abuse in America.''