Political Quotes

“last month I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with several mayors and local leaders who were in Washington with the Arkansas Municipal League. We had a lively and informative discussion on ways to continue the economic growth that has been taking place throughout Arkansas. While much of our conversation was focused on forward-thinking ways to continue these positive trends, there was also a very frank and candid discussion about an issue that is currently holding our communities back--the opioid crisis. Policymakers across our State have been struggling to help confront Arkansas's heroin and opioid epidemic. The Natural State has been hit particularly hard by this national crisis. Retail data collected from pharmacies shows that Arkansas has one of the highest per capita opioid consumption rates in the Nation. CDC data shows that we have the second highest prescribing rate in the country--enough for each Arkansan to have more than one opioid prescription in his or her name. It is an issue that all of us--from city leaders to lawmakers in Little Rock, to our Congressional delegation in Washington--continue to work tirelessly to confront because we have seen how pervasive this crisis is and how devastating its effects are. I know that everyone who serves in this Chamber is working just as feverishly with their State and local leaders to confront the crisis.…”