Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to address another topic this morning. I want to speak in support of the House's efforts to combat the opioid epidemic that has swept across Pennsylvania and across the Nation. This week, the House is voting on more than 30 opioid-related bills, with many more to come next week as well. Sadly, you would be hard-pressed today to find someone who hasn't been impacted by this epidemic or who doesn't know someone who has. It transcends socioeconomic and geographic lines and makes no distinction between age, income, race, gender, or politics. Hundreds of thousands of American lives have been cut short by drug abuse. In my region of Pennsylvania, prescription drugs, heroin, and fentanyl are the leading causes of death in several communities. In fact, our region has experienced a 23 percent increase in opioid- related deaths in 2018 as compared to the same time period in 2017. Too many families feel broken and feel lost. Those whom we know personally--our neighbors, our family, and our friends--are working to save the lives of those whom they love. Our constituents should know that we here in Congress have their backs. They should know that we are working to provide them with the resources necessary to prevent addiction, to treat abuse, and to help families and individuals recover. This week and next, the House is passing legislation that changes the way opioids are prescribed and encourages alternative methods and medications to treat pain.…”