Political Quotes

“We have a good bill here, a bipartisan bill, to help us move forward to reduce the rate of abuse of prescription drugs. Three years ago, local agencies and community leaders came to my office and told us we had this problem because prescription drug overdoses are rising rapidly, and there is really no way to dispose of legitimate prescription drugs in a legal, easy-to-use fashion under our current laws. So for 3 years now we have been working in a bipartisan fashion to come up with a solution, and I am very happy to say that with the strong support of 55 national and regional organizations and the leadership of Chairman Waxman and Representatives Stupak, Moran and Smith, we have found a solution that does protect the public and the environment from harmful drugs. You know, prescription drug abuse really is a growing epidemic. Back in my home State of Washington prescription drug overdoses have now surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of accidental death for people ages 35 to 54. Washington has the sixth highest rate in the Nation of prescription drug abuse among 12-to 17-year-olds; and, unfortunately, today's medicine cabinets have become tomorrow's drug dealers' storage sites. {time} 1750 Kids are abusing leftover prescription drugs and getting addicted or, in the worst cases, dying. Just yesterday, nine middle school children in Bremerton, Washington, were hospitalized after popping prescription pills that one student brought to school from home.…”