Tim Walberg: “I thank the chairman for yielding, and I thank Congresswoman Debbie Dingell for working with me on this bipartisan…”

“I thank the chairman for yielding, and I thank Congresswoman Debbie Dingell for working with me on this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5009, Jessie's Law. Everywhere I go in Michigan, I hear about the opioid crisis. It truly is the crisis next door. For many of our friends and loved ones, the terrifying realities of addiction are difficult to escape. The story behind Jessie's Law is a tragic one. The bill is named in memory of Jessie Grubb, a young woman living in Michigan at the time she died of an opioid overdose. Jessie was training for a marathon when a running injury required her to undergo surgery. Before the procedure, Jessie and her parents informed the hospital that she was in recovery from addiction; however, that information never made it to her discharging physician. Jessie was unknowingly discharged from the hospital with a prescription for oxycodone, which ultimately led to her death. If Jessie's history of addiction had been noted on her chart in a manner similar to other potentially lethal medical concerns, like a drug allergy, Jessie might still be here today. Jessie's tragic story was entirely preventable and is an example of why we need commonsense legislation like Jessie's Law.…”