Political Quotes

“I come here before you today, joined by my colleague Senator Baldwin from Wisconsin--but also by colleagues from both sides of the aisle, as she mentioned--in support of legislation to provide safer and more effective pain management to our Nation's veterans. Too many of our veterans have returned from overseas duties only to fight another battle here at home. The Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act takes the necessary steps to address challenges faced by our veterans. Again, I thank the Simcakoskis for their bravery and courage, as painful as it is for the family, in hopes that it will help--and it will help--the next generation of veterans who are being treated at the VA. This bill reforms the overreliance on painkillers by the VA while still ensuring that veterans receive appropriate medication. This legislation not only updates and strengthens the guidelines for opioid prescriptions, but it requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand the scope of research, education, delivery, and integration of alternative pain management. Chronic pain should not be something our veterans are forced to live with, and the VA must be on the cutting edge of developing effective pain management.…”