Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4284, the Indexing Narcotics, Fentanyl, and Opioids Act, or INFO Act. The opioid crisis is a complex issue that requires an all-hands-on- deck approach. Communities across the Nation are being ravaged by this crisis, and many are working hard to find ways to stop it. With 115 people dying every day from opioid overdoses, communities could benefit from sharing effective interventions to decrease opioid use disorder and overdose deaths and having one-stop access to Federal resources, including grant funding announcements, available to support their efforts. The INFO Act would create a central repository for information on programs within HHS related to the reduction of opioid abuse and other substance use disorders, as well as how communities nationwide are tackling the opioid epidemic. In this way, folks across the country can work together and learn from one another. This easily accessible, electronic public dashboard would allow for strategies to combat this crisis to be shared and served as a resource to patients, loved ones of those with opioid use disorder, and local communities. The INFO Act also would establish an interagency substance use disorder coordinating committee to help coordinate response efforts to the opioid epidemic within HHS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.”