Heidi Alexander: “now I would like to say a word about legislation that the majority leader, Senator McConnell, has described as landmark…”

“now I would like to say a word about legislation that the majority leader, Senator McConnell, has described as landmark legislation, which I expect the Senate to move to early next week, and that is the legislation dealing with the most serious public health epidemic in America today, the opioid crisis. We will be voting on the Opioid Crisis Response Act. This landmark legislation is the work of five different committees in the Senate. More than 70 Senators--half Republican, half Democrat--have provisions in this bill. A big bill is hard to talk about, so let me just mention 10 key provisions: first, Senator Portman's STOP Act to stop illegal drugs, including fentanyl, at the border coming through the mail; second, new nonaddictive painkillers, research and fast-track. I call this the holy grail of the opioids crisis because 100 million Americans hurt. They have pain; 25 million have chronic pain. They need help, and we need new nonaddictive treatments to help them. Blister packs for opioids, such as a 3 to 5 days' supply--we authorized the FDA to require manufacturers to do that. More medication-assisted treatment, preventing doctor shopping by improving State prescription drug monitoring programs, and more behavioral and mental health providers. No. 7, support for comprehensive opioid recovery centers; No. 8, help for babies born in opioid withdrawal; No. 9, help for mothers with opioid use disorders, addicted to opioids; and No.…”