Ann Wagner: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, which will improve care for babies who are so sadly suffering from exposure to opioids while in their mother's womb. Hospital usage for opioid overuse in Missouri increased 137 percent between 2005 and 2014, with the highest rates being in the St. Louis region. We must do everything we can to combat this epidemic from all angles. Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely heartbreaking to stand in front of you knowing that in the United States an opioid-dependent baby is born every 20 minutes, immediately suffering from withdrawal: trembling, crying inconsolably, and clenching their tiny muscles as they gasp for breath. My principal mission as a Member of this Chamber is to provide a voice to the voiceless, and it is our duty to defend the most vulnerable. Ensuring babies have access to care and allowing them to recover from these horrible physical and emotional circumstances is not only common sense, but, Mr. Speaker, it is simply the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 4978, and I thank Representative Evan Jenkins for introducing this legislation.”