WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) today issued the following statement after President Trump formally declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency :
“The opioid crisis has reached epidemic proportions, impacting every community across the country in a variety of ways. Today’s public health emergency declaration will unleash more tools and resources in our shared fight to combat the crisis that continues to destroy families and communities regardless of age, gender, race, or geography. We stand ready to work with the administration to deliver relief for the tens-of-thousands of Americans suffering from this epidemic on a daily basis."
Last Congress, Energy and Commerce investigations led to legislative solutions that ultimately were included in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) and the 21st Century Cures Act. The committee’s work has continued this Congress, with ongoing investigations into allegations of pill dumping and patient broker schemes. The committee has also examined the role of fentanyl in the opioid crisis, which has been named the leading cause of opioid overdose deaths.
