Rob Portman: “I would also like to talk for a moment about the legislation we just passed on the appropriations side. There were two…”

“I would also like to talk for a moment about the legislation we just passed on the appropriations side. There were two bills. One focused more on the national security and defense side. There are a lot of good things in there for Ohio, including the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and also for the Lima Tank Plant. Also, much more importantly, it is good for our military-- for our men and women in uniform, who are on the frontlines every day, sacrificing for us. We have shown through this legislation we just passed that we appreciate them. There is not only a pay raise, but also we are providing them the equipment and the modern technology they need to be able to be successful. But I also noticed in the agreement that just passed, the first appropriations bill, that there is really important language with regard to the drug crisis that we face in this country. I see my colleague Sheldon Whitehouse is on the floor. I have worked with him over the years on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Now we have a CARA 2.0 bill that we would like to see passed. But the bottom line is that this House and Senate and President Obama and now President Trump have begun to address this problem in different ways over the last 3 or 4 years, and it is beginning to work. We are finally beginning to see, with regard to the opioid crisis, some success. Recall that the opioid crisis is the worst drug epidemic we have ever faced in this country.…”