We simply cannot stop it without the Federal Government stepping up.

I was the first governor in America to declare a real state of emergency on this issue because we decided that we needed to treat this crisis just like we would treat any other natural or manmade disaster.

I urge you, and your colleagues, to make increased funding for the opioid crisis a top priority.

We also need more targeted and aggressive Federal enforcement interdiction efforts when it comes to fentanyl and these other opioids through initiatives like the Synthetic Trafficking and Overdose Prevention, or STOP, Act.

We do need help from the Federal Government on expanding Medically Assisted Treatment. That is the only way that you can get people off these drugs.

People that are addicted need treatment, and they need help, and we are trying to get them the help they need rather than go after them on the law enforcement side.

It has to take a comprehensive approach. It is the early education and the prevention, and then it is the treatment for the folks who need it, but also cracking down on the people that are profiting from death.

But the folks that are bringing in these large quantities of deadly drugs, knowing that they are going to kill our citizens, we are cracking down and getting tougher on those folks.

I just would like to say at the outset, I'm a strong believer in competition is the way to drive down healthcare costs.

I signed an executive order almost immediately as soon as we received the call and then called the president. There was no delay whatsoever.

I want to thank the mayor for all of her involvement. We're just happy that we're on the same page and we are all able to help each other at this point.