Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5102, the ``Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act of 2018.'' H.R. 5102 would establish a loan repayment program for mental health professionals practicing in areas with few mental health providers or with high death rates from overdose. Mr. Speaker, this bill will amend the Public Health Service Act to create a loan repayment program for individuals who complete a period of service in a substance use disorder treatment job in a mental health professional shortage area and counties where the drug overdose death rate is higher than the national average. This bill authorizes $25 million per year over fiscal years 2019- 2028. H.R. 5102 will strengthen America's substance abuse treatment workforce and provide for greater access to care for patients who need it the most. Mr. Speaker, the current trends of substance abuse in the U.S. are startling. A Columbia University study found that over 40 million Americans age 12 and over meet the clinical criteria for drug addiction and abuse. As substance abuse rates and death from overdose rates increase, studies project a shortage of 85,000 physicians in 2020--the impact of which will be the most devastating in rural communities. In my home state of Texas, 10.1 people die per 100,000 in the population from drug overdoses. In 2016, in Houston there were 364 drug overdose related deaths reported. H.R.…”