PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

S. 980: Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008

Before you vote › Federal bills

S. 980: Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2007-03-23 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 110-521.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2007-03-23 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 110-521. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008

Plain summary

Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit the delivery, distribution, or dispensing of controlled substances over the Internet without a valid prescription. Exempts telemedicine practitioners. Defines "valid prescription" as a prescription that is issued for a legitimate purpose by a practitioner who has conducted at least one in-person medical evaluation of the patient. Adds definitions to the Controlled Substances Act relating to online pharmacies and the issuance of prescriptions over the Internet. Imposes registration and reporting requirements on online pharmacies. Requires an online pharmacy to: (1) display on its Internet homepage a statement that it complies with the requirements of this Act; (2) comply with state laws for the licensure of pharmacies in each state in which it operates or sells controlled substances; (3) post on its Internet homepage specified information, including the name, address, and telephone number of the pharmacy, the qualifications of its pharmacist-in-charge, and a certification of its registration under this Act; and (4) notify the Attorney General and applicable state boards of pharmacy at least 30 days prior to offering to sell, deliver, distribute, or dispense controlled substances over the Internet. Authorizes the Attorney General to issue a special registration under this Act for telemedicine practitioners. Increases criminal penalties involving controlled substances in Schedules III, IV, and V of the Controlled Substances Act. Authorizes states to apply for injunctions or obtain damages and other civil remedies against online pharmacies that are deemed a threat to state residents. Requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission, in determining whether to amend or establish new sentencing guidelines to conform the guidelines and policy statements to this Act, to consult with the Department of Justice (DOJ), experts, and other affected parties concerning which penalties for scheduled substances should be reflected. Requires the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to report to Congress after the enactment of this Act and annually for two years after such initial report on: (1) the foreign supply chains and sources of controlled substances offered for sale without a valid prescription on the Internet; (2) DEA efforts and strategy to decrease such foreign supply chains; and (3) DEA efforts to work with domestic and multinational pharmaceutical companies and others in combating the sale of controlled substances over the Internet without a valid prescription.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate amended)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 980, Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2007 (2007-10-25); CBO cost estimate: S. 980, Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2007 (2007-10-25)

Cosponsors on this site

John Cornyn (R-TX)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-s980 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110