East Central Reporter

Chris Miller, a representative for Illinois House District 101, announced that lawmakers have passed a bill allowing drugs approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) but not by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in Illinois.

"Last night a dangerous bill passed that circumvents the FDA and gives full control to WHO---ANY drug approved by WHO and denied by FDA is now usable in Illinois," said Chris G. Miller, State Representative for 101st District (R), according to Facebook. "It's illegal, far from safe, and is why NO other state implements this protocol!!"

The bill referenced by Miller in his Facebook post is House Bill 3637, which amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. According to the amendment, a drug not approved by the FDA will not be considered "adulterated" if it is recommended for use by WHO. This provision applies even if the drug's labeling reflects a prior approval that is no longer in effect, provided the labeling was accurate at the time of manufacture. A Senate amendment sets a sunset date of January 1, 2035, for this provision.

Screenshot of State Representative Chris Miller's May 31 Facebook post | State Representative Chris Miller's Facebook page

According to The Center Square, House Bill 3637 would apply to abortion pills prescribed in Illinois if the FDA revokes approval for those medications. The bill passed the Senate with a 38-19 vote before returning to the House. It also offers protection to physicians who have lost their licenses in other states, as long as they did not act unlawfully under Illinois law.

The House passed the bill with a 69-37 vote before it moved to the Senate, as reported by WTTW on April 8. Rep. Chris Miller is not alone in expressing concerns about this measure. Rep. Bill Hauter warned that FDA oversight serves as a critical safety mechanism and said: "Do not reject the authority of the U.S. federal Food and Drug Administration. This is unprecedented in my mind," according to WTTW.

Miller was first elected to the Illinois State House of Representatives in 2019 and hails from Hindsboro, Illinois. He is a third-generation cattle farmer and grain operator and holds an associate degree in agriculture from Lake Land College along with a Bachelor of Science in Education.