In 2014, our community leaders, families, and victims alike came together to fight the growing epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse in northern Illinois. Together we launched a district-wide action plan. Today we can celebrate many successes as its recommendations have been implemented. This year DuPage County celebrated 100 lives saved by first responders using Narcan. Lake County officers counted 65 rescues, and there are many more throughout the Chicago suburbs. Tragically, relapses and overdoses still claim lives. I have met families and parents who know this too well. Tim Ryan grew up in my district in Crystal Lake and overcame his own heroin habit only to see his own 20-year-old son die of an overdose. Today, this afternoon, tonight, young people are still using heroin. Prescription drugs are still being abused in our communities. Our fight is far from over. We must continue to work through meaningful community and State partnerships. Connecting affected individuals and organizations with each other is paramount to our future success. The faces and the stories of heroin are real. They demand and deserve hope and solutions. ____________________
Share
More from Randy Hultgren
I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), my good friend. I appreciate his work on this and for calling this Special Order together tonight. Once again, it is the time of year where I have the somber privilege to come to the floor and…
I thank Chairman Barr for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 2226, the Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation. This is something that…
I first want to thank the hardest working, most effective chairman in all of Congress; and I also want to thank my good friend and colleague French Hill for sponsoring this legislation. I also want to thank my friend and colleague from…
I thank Chairman Smith. I appreciate all of his hard work and success. And I also want to thank Ranking Member Johnson for her bipartisan work on this legislation, as well as her work on H.R. 589 that we will be getting over the finish…





