WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, authored by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA). H.R. 6 passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 396-14.
“This package is not Congress’ first legislative response to this crisis, nor will it be our last. But it does include meaningful solutions that will update archaic policies, better equip our communities to respond to this evolving epidemic, and save lives," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). “We want to thank all of our colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, who came forward with ideas and worked with our committee on a bipartisan basis. Congress has pushed forward with an unprecedented determination to fight this scourge and we will not stop until it ends - we owe it to the families of the more than 100 Americans who die of an opioid overdose every single day. We look forward to working with our Senate colleagues to ensure these bipartisan measures are swiftly signed into law."
Chairman Walden kicked off House debate of the bipartisan package and encouraged those battling addiction to seek help. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) both delivered passionate remarks about H.R. 6 and Congress’ continued efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Leader McCarthy shared the moving story about his press secretary, Erin Perrine, who lost her brother to an opioid overdose.
