Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague from West Virginia who is fighting hard on a lot of different fronts to meet the challenge of this opioid and drug abuse epidemic that is sweeping across the country, and it is really hitting us in the rural areas in West Virginia. I always say our State is just one big small town, and both Senator Manchin and I have personal experience with families who have been deeply affected by this. It is destroying families, lives, and futures. Chances are we all know someone, as I said, who has been affected, but we have been especially hard-hit in the State of West Virginia, and we have seen more than our fair share of devastating consequences: babies born exposed to drugs, families torn apart, children ripped from their parents because of their parents' habits and lifestyle, grandparents raising children when they had no real intention or didn't know that is what was going to happen. We have the unfortunate distinction as a State of leading the Nation in drug overdose deaths per capita. Ninety-one Americans die each day because of this crisis, and far too many of them are our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, and our children. No community is immune. That is why this all-hands-on-deck, community-oriented, coordinated, community-focused effort must move forward. Fortunately, many individuals and organizations--and I get to meet with them regularly. It is inspiring to hear how people in the community are pulling together.…”