Stop STALLING Act

The Stop STALLING Act would prohibit companies or individuals from submitting objectively baseless petitions to the Food and Drug Administration in order to interfere with competitors' applications for drug market approval. This practice, sometimes called "petition abuse," can delay the introduction of generic drugs and other medications to the market. If enacted, the Federal Trade Commission would be authorized to sue parties who file such frivolous petitions, and those found liable could face civil penalties of up to $50,000 for each day the FDA spent reviewing the baseless petition.

The bill has passed committee review in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now eligible for a floor vote. If it becomes law, the measure could potentially speed up the drug approval process by reducing delays caused by bad-faith petitions, which could benefit consumers by allowing generic and other competing drugs to reach the market faster and potentially at lower costs. However, the bill would need to pass the full Senate, the House, and receive presidential signature to become law.