Michael Burgess

I expect us to reach a shared commitment to complete our work reauthorizing these last set of user fees.

The Congressional Budget Office does dictate to us, but really, they should be our partner in things.

It is necessary to take the long view sometimes.

I look at our doctors as our allies in this, not our adversaries.

Now more than ever, we must come together and strengthen our commitment to fight this scourge--it requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.

This policy contained in H.R. 2063, the Opioid Preventing Abuse through Continuing Education Act, authorized by Representative Brad Schneider, does concern me because it seems to suggest that doctors are primarily at fault for this…

I will just pledge to you that, yes, it is an issue that is important to me, and we will work closely on that.

I would just ask the question: Is the agency set up to handle that?

We do believe that fentanyl analogues belong in Schedule I.

I do think that we need more education.

I think doctors are part of the problem.

Now more than ever we must come together and strengthen our commitment to fight this.

On the average, 115 Americans die every single day from an overdose of an opiate.

This is a good bill, and I urge passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I look forward to hearing your vision for the Department of Health and Human Services and exploring opportunities to work together on the many critical health issues on behalf of the American people.

I want you to know I am committed to relieving the burdens that have been placed on doctors through commonsense market-driven solutions.

It is unacceptable that we would see people, understanding with our Nation's history that impairment kills, it is unacceptable that we would allow continued impairment from illicit drugs to injure families on our roadways.

Today we continue our examination of food safety--a matter which has been of interest to the American public ever since the publishing of Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' in 1906.

It's a gift. It's a gift.

As members, I believe we should always be looking for avenues to reduce burdensome regulation, foster innovation, spur competition, and provide certainty for consumers and businesses.

As we continue to build on the success of the transformative 21st Century Cures act, our committee must fully comprehend how each step of the drug supply chain process impacts consumers.

I consider it a gift to humanity that they are providing.

The compelling testimony that you provided, and you've lost constituents who have gone places for treatment and ended up not surviving.

So that has to be a violation of your state law. There's probably a False Claims Act violation in there somewhere.

Thank you, Chairman. And let me add my congratulations to your position.