Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank the gentleman for yielding the customary 30 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule that provides for consideration of H.R. 2851, H.R. 5735, and H.R. 5788. We could have done so much better. I am going to get into some of the great ideas that we talked about and amendments were submitted but didn't make it through. This week is supposed to be about bringing bills to the floor that actually do something about the opioid crisis that is having devastating consequences on families and entire communities, including in my home State of Colorado. Legislation to address opioid abuse and save lives is long overdue. But I am sad to say that the bills that are being brought forth make, at the most, incremental changes and will not substantially affect the plague that is affecting our country of opioid addiction, abuse, and death. As you know, this is a crisis that cuts across State lines. It affects every congressional district in our country. I certainly know people directly affected in my constituents. I am sure every Member of Congress does. In Colorado the rate of drug overdoses since 2000 has more than doubled. This is not a partisan issue, and I wish we could come together around a more significant response that actually did something to combat opioid abuse. If Republicans were serious about dealing with opioids, they would drop their assault on Medicaid.…”