WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman today kicked off debate on the conference report to S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, the product of bicameral negotiations to advance a unified package of legislation to combat the opioid epidemic.
But behind every statistic is a person who was loved, part of a family and community, and lost too soon.
It’s a frightening reality, but we have to face this epidemic head on, and today’s vote is an important step forward. Since the beginning of this process, our focus has been - and continues to be - on attacking this public health crisis from every side. From zeroing in on treatment for addiction and overdoses, to reforming prescribing practices and the delivery of medicines, and working with law enforcement and with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Specifically, the conference report addresses prevention care by requiring HHS to create an interagency task force to address chronic and pain management care, and by reauthorizing NASPER, a piece of legislation the House has already passed with large bipartisan support.
The conference report addresses treatment by ensuring opioid reversal medication is accessible to patients, their family members, and first responders. These medications are key to stopping the overdose epidemic and getting these patients into proper treatment to become productive members of our society.
The conference report also ensures proper oversight and accountability by including the Majority Leader’s OPEN Act.
The conference report as a whole touches on the spectrum of issues driving the opioid crisis. While there is no one solution, we are making progress in addressing a problem that has rapidly grown.
I thank all my colleagues - on the Energy and Commerce Committee and off - for working to advance these important bipartisan bills that will make a real difference in our communities.
I am also proud that our final package has achieved the support of over 200 of the nation’s leading advocacy groups - groups from across the country that are focused on recovery. These advocates are on the frontlines in this epidemic, and truly appreciate the positive impact our solutions will have in their communities.
There is an urgency to our work as drug overdose deaths surge in Michigan and beyond. We owe this effort to the past, present, and sadly, future victims of the opioid epidemic - our neighbors, friends, and family, across every part of the country and every demographic group. Let’s come together, and get the job done. What we are doing will help save lives.
