Bud Shuster: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3680, which is one of several…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3680, which is one of several initiatives being taken up by the House this week to combat the devastating opioid epidemic our Nation is facing. Every person in my district knows someone who has been impacted by this crisis, and each day that we wait is another day we go without taking action to save the lives of the people feeling the terrible effects of this addiction. Each day without action is another day that our communities are ravaged by these drugs. We can combat this crisis and repair our communities. This is a needed step that both Republicans and Democrats are working together to achieve. I strongly support this legislation because it will provide funding to our health centers to coprescribe naloxone, a lifesaving drug. My entire district has been plagued by the scourge of this crisis. The alarming rise in overdose deaths show the urgent need for naloxone to be readily available to both healthcare professionals and those with increased risk of overdose. These efforts are one part of a broader solution that will undoubtedly save lives. I applaud my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for taking these steps, and I look forward to continuing to work to make our communities a safer place by ridding them of this epidemic. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3680.”