Donald Norcross: “I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for yielding and to my colleagues for including this…”

“I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for yielding and to my colleagues for including this amendment en bloc. Mr. Chair, this amendment addresses the ongoing and, unfortunately, growing opioid epidemic in our communities. There are 60,000 overdose deaths each year. I am vice chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic. We are looking for ways to address this issue. It is a complex issue, and we want to take a variety of actions to help those suffering from the disease of addiction. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, are at increased risk of abusing opioids according to the AMA, the American Medical Association. Many brave men and women who serve come back with what is described as invisible wounds. We know they are not invisible. We see it every day. I have spoken to those veterans who live in my community who suffer from PTSD and, unfortunately, from the disease of addiction. My amendment would set aside $5 million for the National Center for PTSD to study the connection between addiction and PTSD. Our veterans are suffering, and this investment will help them. Let's get to the bottom of the connection between PTSD and opioid abuse. It is a simple but necessary way to address the epidemic.”