Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 4684, Ensuring Access to Quality Sober Living Act of 2018. This legislation will require the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and disseminate best practices for operating recovery housing. We heard a lot about these issues in the course of our investigation and in our legislative work. Recently, an increasing number of reports have revealed the nefarious practice of patient brokering. This is where individuals known as ``patient brokers'' treat men and women with a substance use disorder as a commodity. They push them to seek treatment at certain outpatient facilities and to live at affiliated recovery residences while undergoing treatment. In exchange for steering patients towards specific facilities and housing, patient brokers then receive generous financial kickbacks. Oftentimes, the residence and the treatment center involved in the kickback scheme lack any oversight, transparency, or accountability. This legislation will help ensure that recovery residences maintain safe and supportive environments for those who are in recovery. I would like to thank my California colleagues, Judy Chu, Mimi Walters, and Raul Ruiz, along with Florida Representative Gus Bilirakis, for addressing this important issue and bringing this legislation to the committee and to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”