Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of the amendment that requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidelines for prescribing an opioid overdose reversal drug. The guidelines would cover dosage safety, standing orders and other education, and distribution measures. In April, the Surgeon General issued an advisory calling for more people to carry naloxone. Expanding the use of this lifesaving drug is a key part of the public health response to the opioid crisis, along with effective prevention, treatment, and recovery programs for substance use disorder. I can just tell you, Mr. Chairman, from my own district, I have had multiple roundtables in every corner of the district. I have, of course, met with families that have been affected. I have met with addiction treatment specialists. I have met with medical providers. But I have also met with law enforcement. In Oregon, we lead in a lot of this recovery effort, but also in making sure naloxone is available. This is the antidote. Mr. Chair, these fentanyls that are coming into our country illegally, if I had a little salt shaker here and put out, I don't know, a half a dozen, a dozen grains of salt, and you put your hand on it, you would likely absorb that through your skin and pass out.…”