Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority leader, who is also the chief sponsor of this legislation. Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to thank the chairman for his work in dealing with opioid abuse throughout the country. Mr. Speaker, where I come from in Kern County, California, over 160 people are sent to the emergency room for opioid overdoses every single year. Every single one of those stories is tragic. Addiction tears families apart, it uproots communities, and it deprives people of the basic freedom to live the lives they want. Opioid addiction is only getting worse in this country. The most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show that 78 Americans die every single day from overdose--78 Americans. We need to do something about it. Ultimately, it is individuals, families, and the communities that are on the front line in the fight against addiction. But Congress can do something, too. The Federal Government can and should support community efforts to stop opioid abuse and help those in recovery. So we have over one dozen bills we will pass this week that target at the center of the opioid addiction: the drug trade, prescription abuse, health care, prevention, you name it. But it is not enough to pass laws and start new programs.…”