Luke Messer: “I want to thank my colleague, my good friend, the gentlewoman from Indiana, for her important work on this legislation.…”

“I want to thank my colleague, my good friend, the gentlewoman from Indiana, for her important work on this legislation. I rise in support today of S. 524. Mr. Speaker, an astounding 78 people die every day of opioid overdose in America--78 people each day, 78 families crushed in the wake of this epidemic. And that will continue to leave devastation in its path unless we act. {time} 1200 Austin, a city in my district, is all too aware of opioid addiction's devastating consequences. It has become the epicenter of an HIV outbreak connected to opioid addiction. The community of Austin is rallying to that crisis, but Hoosiers aren't the only ones suffering. That is why this week we came together as a House to pass 18 bills to tackle this epidemic, including the bill we are debating right now. These bills are an important first step. We must continue to work together to end this devastation and help the families crushed by this crisis.”