Rob Portman: “the manager's amendment made in order by the rule provides for some technical and clarifying amendments and accommodates…”

“the manager's amendment made in order by the rule provides for some technical and clarifying amendments and accommodates the concerns of two of the committees that have jurisdiction over aspects of this legislation. In the drug-free workplace provision, the amendment makes clear that an employee assistance program should offer access to treatment for employees. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure staff provided a substitute for our drug-free teen drivers provision in the bill that clarifies the organization of the program established under the legislation and provides an explicit authorization for appropriations under that part of the legislation. The Committee on Commerce had requested that we replace the incentive for the development of anti-addiction medication, an issue that came up earlier in our debate, and we have indeed replaced the legislation that we had with regard to anti-addiction medication with a study for the need for such incentives. The amendment, therefore, grants their request. Finally, the amendment sets the quorum for meetings of the Commission on Medical Education that is in the legislation so that the meetings of the Commission can take place without any concern of not having a quorum present.”