Sheila Jackson Lee: “This is an emotional night for me. I thank the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark) for guiding us. I also thank…”

“This is an emotional night for me. I thank the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark) for guiding us. I also thank Representatives Guinta and Kuster. I am so moved by the fact that we are here on a bipartisan statement. As I spoke to Ms. Kuster and indicated, as a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations count me in, as she began to expand the tragic window of the impact of drug addiction, particularly opioids. Let me speak very quickly because I have a lot to say. This is an epidemic that has gone beyond reason. Between 2000 and 2014, almost half a million people died from drug overdoses. In 2014 alone, more than 47,000 people died of drug overdoses. The largest percentage of overdose deaths in 2014 were attributed to opioids like prescription painkillers, methadone, morphine, and heroin. Today in the Rules Committee, we made it clear that we want to work with doctors and law enforcement. We also said that we understand the use of painkillers during end of life. We understand that, so we are not here to condemn. We are here to help. I am so glad that the Judiciary Committee will have on the floor this Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act that responds to this crisis. It is a treatment bill where we will bring together law enforcement and substance abuse treatment persons. This emergency is compounded due to the perilous connection between prescription painkillers and heroin.…”