Skip to main content
S 644 113th Congress Senate Health Child health Civil actions and liability Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation Drug trafficking and controlled substances Drug, alcohol, tobacco use Licensing and registrations Prescription drugs Retail and wholesale trades

PACT Act

Introduced: March 21, 2013 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 21, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mar 21, 2013
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Preventing Abuse of Cough Treatments Act of 2013 or PACT Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale or offering for sale of a drug containing dextromethorphan, and not subject to practitioner supervision requirements, to an individual under age 18, except if the sale is made: (1) pursuant to a validly issued prescription; or (2) to an individual who provides proof of being actively enrolled in the military, including a valid military identification card. Imposes civil monetary penalties that escalate upon repeated violation.

Deems to be adulterated any unfinished dextromethorphan that is possessed, received, or distributed in violation of this Act.

Prohibits a person from: (1) possessing or receiving unfinished dextromethorphan unless the person is registered with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a producer of a drug or device or otherwise registered, licensed, or approved under federal or state law to engage in the practice of pharmacy, pharmaceutical production, or manufacture or distribution of drug ingredients; or (2) distributing unfinished dextromethorphan to any person other than a registered or otherwise authorized person. Excludes from such prohibitions common carriers that possess, receive, or distribute unfinished dextromethorphan for purposes of distributing it between registered, licensed, or approved persons. Imposes additional civil monetary penalties for such possession and distribution violations.

What's happening now March 21, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 644: PACT Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-644/
MLA
"S. 644: PACT Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-644/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 644, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-644/.
Markdown link
[S. 644: PACT Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-644/)
Report a problem