89–006 

116TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 116–131 

EXPANDING FINDINGS FOR FEDERAL OPIOID RESEARCH 

AND TREATMENT ACT 

JUNE 27, 2019.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 3153] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom was 

referred the bill (H.R. 3153) to direct the Director of the National 

Science Foundation to support research on opioid addiction, and for 

other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably 

thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Purpose of the Bill ...................................................................................... 2 

II. Background and Need for the Legislation ................................................ 2 

III. Committee Hearings ................................................................................... 2 

IV. Committee Consideration and Votes ......................................................... 2 

V. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill .................................................. 3 

VI. Section-By-Section Analysis (By Title and Section) ................................. 3 

VII. Committee Views ........................................................................................ 3 

VIII. Cost Estimate .............................................................................................. 3 

IX. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate ............................................. 4 

X. Compliance with Public Law 104–4 (Unfunded Mandates) .................... 4 

XI. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations ........................... 4 

XII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives ...................... 5 

XIII. Federal Advisory Committee Statement ................................................... 5 

XIV. Duplication of Federal Programs ............................................................... 5 

XV. Earmark Identification ............................................................................... 5 

XVI. Applicability to the Legislative Branch ..................................................... 5 

XVII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law ........................ 5 

XVIII. Proceedings of Full Committee Markup .................................................... 5 

2 

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 19, 2018. ‘‘Understanding the Epidemic.’’ https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html. 2 National Institute on Drug Abuse. January 2019. ‘‘Opioid Overdose Crisis.’’ https:// 

www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis. 3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 19, 2018. ‘‘Drug Overdose Deaths.’’ 

https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html. 4 National Institute on Drug Abuse. January 2019. ‘‘Dramatic Increases in Material Opioid 

Use and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.’’ https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/dramatic-increases-in-maternal-opioid-use-neonatal-abstinence-syndrome. 5 National Institute on Drug Abuse. January 2019. ‘‘Opioid Overdose Crisis.’’ https:// 

www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis. 6 Ibid 

I. PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 3153 is to direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research related to opioid addiction. 

II. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

The opioid epidemic is a significant and ongoing problem for communities throughout the country with significant social, medical, 

and economic impacts. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of prescription 

opioid involved deaths has been increasing since 1999.1 In 2017, 

more than 47,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose and approximately 1.7 million Americans had a substance abuse disorder 

related to prescription opioids.2 This is an issue that affects every 

state in the country; between 2016 and 2017, 23 states had statistically significant increases in drug overdose rates.3

The opioid epidemic affects not only those addicted to opioids but 

their family members and communities as well. Babies born into 

addiction suffer from neonatal abstinence syndrome, or neonatal 

opioid withdrawal syndrome. There were five times as many babies 

born with neonatal abstinence syndrome in 2014 than in 2004.4 Research indicates that the misuse of prescription opioids alone costs 

78.5 billion dollars per year.5 These costs include medical costs, 

productivity losses, and criminal justice costs.6

Ongoing research on opioid addiction conducted by the National 

Science Foundation (NSF) has focused on areas such as the role of 

illicit supply networks; the neuroscience of addiction; options for alternative, non-addictive therapies for pain; and the secondary effects of opioid addiction on families and communities. However, research gaps remain in a number of areas. Additionally, both the 

NSF and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have recognized 

that research into opioid addiction would benefit from a multidisciplinary approach and collaboration. H.R. 3153 would take advantage of NSF’s strengths in neuroscience and social and behavioral 

sciences in particular to address some of the basic research gaps 

in opioid addiction, including through partnership with NIH. 

III. COMMITTEE HEARINGS

The Committee has held no hearings on this legislation. 

IV. COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION AND VOTES

As noted in Section IV of this report, the Committee has held no 

hearings on this legislation. 

On June 6, 2019, Representative Jennifer Wexton, for herself 

and Representatives Baird of Indiana, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, 

3 

Mr. Connolly of Virginia, Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Mr. 

Kilmer of Washington introduced H.R. 3153, the Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment Act or the EFFORT Act, to director the Director of the Nation Science Foundation to support research on opioid addiction, and for other purposes. 

On June 20, 2019, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met to consider H.R. 3153 and three other bills. There were 

no amendments offered to H.R. 3153. 

Ms. Johnson moved that the Committee favorably report the bill, 

H.R. 3153, to the House with the recommendation that the bill be 

approved. The motion was agreed to by a voice vote. 

V. SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE BILL

H.R. 3153 directs the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded 

research on the science of opioid addiction. 

VI. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS (BY TITLE AND SECTION)

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS 

‘‘Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment 

Act or EFFORT Act’’ 

This section also provides findings for the bill. 

SECTION 2. NSF SUPPORT OF RESEARCH ON OPIOD ADDITION 

This section directs NSF to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the science of opioid addiction. 

VII. COMMITTEE VIEWS

Research conducted by NSF has significantly increased our understanding of the science of addiction, but gaps remain in areas 

of research that will enhance our ability to address the opioid epidemic. The Committee believes increased research into opioid addiction is an important tool to develop evidence-based policies to 

address the opioid epidemic. While NSF is not the only agency to 

fund research into opioid addiction, the Committee believes NSF is 

the appropriate agency to address and fund some of the basic research into the science of opioid addiction. The Committee encourages NSF to collaborate with NIH and other agencies when appropriate, and otherwise take steps to disseminate the results of NSF 

funded research to agencies and other end-users who can help 

translate the science into practice. 

VIII. COST ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the estimate 

of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures 

or revenues contained in the cost estimate prepared by the Director 

of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

4 

IX. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, June 25, 2019. 

Hon. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, 

Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MADAM CHAIRWOMAN: The Congressional Budget Office 

has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3153, the EFFORT Act. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani Shankaran. 

Sincerely, 

MARK P. HADLEY

(For Phillip L. Swagel). 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 3153 would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF), 

in consultation with the National Institutes of Health, to support 

research on the science of opioid addiction. CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3153 would have no effect on the federal budget 

because the NSF already awards grants to institutions of higher 

education and nonprofit organizations to study opioid addiction. In 

recent years, the agency has awarded several million dollars such 

research. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani Shankaran. 

The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

X. FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

H.R. 3153 contains no unfunded mandates. 

XI. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 


Insert offset folio 7 here HR131.001
5 

XII. STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of H.R. 3153 is to support research on opioid addiction 

consistent with NSF’s current statutory mission to help strengthen 

the nation’s response to the opioid epidemic. This bill has no reporting requirements. 

XIII. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

H.R. 3153 does not create any advisory committees. 

XIV. DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision of H.R. 

3153 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the federal government known to be duplicative of another federal program, including 

any program that was included in a report to Congress pursuant 

to section 21 of Public Law 111–139 or the most recent Catalog of 

Federal Domestic Assistance. 

XV. EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the Committee 

finds that H.R. 3153 contains no earmarks, limited tax benefits, or 

limited tariff benefits. 

XVI. APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that H.R. 3153 does not relate to the terms 

and conditions of employment or access to public services or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104–1). 

XVII. STATEMENT ON PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any state, local, or tribal law. 

XVIII. PROCEEDINGS OF THE FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP

U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 2019

MARKUPS: H.R. 2528, STEM 

Opportunities Act of 2019; 

H.R. 36, Combating Sexual Harassment 

in Science Act of 2019; 

H.R. 3196, Vera Rubin Survey Telescope 

Designation Act; and 

H.R. 3153, Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid 

Research and Treatment Act 

MARKUP 

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND 

TECHNOLOGY 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

JUNE 20, 2019 

Serial No. CP 116–4 

Printed for the use of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

( 

Available via the World Wide Web: http://science.house.gov 

(VIII) 

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY 

HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas, Chairwoman 

ZOE LOFGREN, California 

DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois 

SUZANNE BONAMICI, Oregon 

AMI BERA, California, 

Vice Chair 

CONOR LAMB, Pennsylvania 

LIZZIE FLETCHER, Texas 

HALEY STEVENS, Michigan 

KENDRA HORN, Oklahoma 

MIKIE SHERRILL, New Jersey 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

STEVE COHEN, Tennessee 

JERRY MCNERNEY, California 

ED PERLMUTTER, Colorado 

PAUL TONKO, New York 

BILL FOSTER, Illinois 

DON BEYER, Virginia 

CHARLIE CRIST, Florida 

SEAN CASTEN, Illinois 

KATIE HILL, California 

BEN MCADAMS, Utah 

JENNIFER WEXTON, Virginia 

FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma, 

Ranking Member 

MO BROOKS, Alabama 

BILL POSEY, Florida 

RANDY WEBER, Texas 

BRIAN BABIN, Texas 

ANDY BIGGS, Arizona 

ROGER MARSHALL, Kansas 

RALPH NORMAN, South Carolina 

MICHAEL CLOUD, Texas 

TROY BALDERSON, Ohio 

PETE OLSON, Texas 

ANTHONY GONZALEZ, Ohio 

MICHAEL WALTZ, Florida 

JIM BAIRD, Indiana 

JAIME HERRERA BEUTLER, Washington 

JENNIFFER GONZA ́ LEZ-COLO ́ N, Puerto 

Rico 

VACANCY 

(IX) 

C O N T E N T S 

JUNE 20, 2019 

Page 

H.R. 2528—STEM Opportunities Act of 2019 ....................................................... 11 

H.R. 36—Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019 ....................... 11 

H.R. 3196—Vera Rubin Survey Telescope Designation Act ................................. 11 

H.R. 3153—Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment 

Act ......................................................................................................................... 11

(11) 

MARKUPS: H.R. 2528, STEM 

Opportunities Act of 2019; 

H.R. 36, Combating Sexual Harassment 

in Science Act of 2019; 

H.R. 3196, Vera Rubin Survey Telescope 

Designation Act; and 

H.R. 3153, Expanding Findings for Federal 

Opioid Research and Treatment Act 

THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY, 

Washington, D.C. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:04 a.m., in room 

2318, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson 

[Chairwoman of the Committee] presiding. 

Chairwoman JOHNSON. Good morning. The Committee will come 

to order. And without objection, the Chair is authorizes to declare 

recess at any time. Pursuant to Committee rule 2(e) and House 

rule XI, the Chair announces that she may postpone roll call votes. 

Pursuant to notice, the Committee meets to consider the following measures: H.R. 2528, STEM Opportunities Act of 2019; H.R. 

36, Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019; H.R. 

3196, Vera Rubin Survey Telescope Designation Act; and H.R. 3153, 

Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment 

Act. 

I want to welcome everyone to today’s markup. Today, we meet 

to mark up four good bipartisan bills. First, we will consider the 

STEM Opportunities Act, which has been a priority of mine of 

course for many years. This bill will help us address the disparity 

in the number of women and minorities in the STEM fields. 

Without including all of our Nation’s brain power in the fight for 

21st-century competitiveness, it is unlikely that our country will remain the world leader in science and innovation. It is therefore my 

hope that this bill will play a major role in ensuring our country’s 

competitiveness in the coming years. 

It is not enough to simply attract women to the STEM fields. We 

must also ensure they stay in these fields, and the second bill in 

our markup addresses one of the reasons women leave the STEM 

sciences in such high rates: Sexual harassment. The problem of 

sexual harassment in the STEM fields has not been addressed in 

a comprehensive fashion. I hope that the Combating Sexual HarVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 Jul 02, 2019 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR131.XXX HR131
12 

assment in Science Act of 2019 can play an important role in focusing Federal efforts to stamp out sexual harassment in the sciences. 

I want to take a moment to recognize my colleague Ranking 

Member Lucas, who is an original co-sponsor of both of these bills. 

Both he and his staff have provided very constructive input into 

these bills and the hearings we held on these topics. I think the 

bills before us today are better off because of these efforts, and I 

want to sincerely thank him and his staff for their work. 

The third bill before us today is the Vera Rubin Survey Telescope 

Designation Act. I’ll speak more about this bill in a minute, but I 

think it is appropriate that on the same day our Committee tries 

to address the issues facing women in the STEM fields, we also 

take a moment to recognize a woman who overcame the hurdles 

she faced to provide significant contributions to the field of astronomy. 

Finally, we will consider the Expanding Findings for Federal 

Opioid Research and Treatment Act, which is offered by Ms. 

Wexton. The scourge of opioid addiction is one of the most serious 

problems facing our Nation right now. It only makes sense to bring 

all of our resources to bear on this issue, and I think the National 

Science Foundation (NSF) can bring unique capabilities to the fight 

to better understand and deal with this critical issue. 

I look forward to a productive markup and moving these bills 

very quickly to the House floor. 

[The prepared statement of Chairwoman Johnson follows:] 

I want to welcome everyone to today’s markup. Today we meet to markup four 

good bipartisan bills. 

First, we will consider the STEM Opportunities Act, which has been a priority of 

mine for many years. This bill will help us address the disparity in the number of 

women and minorities in the STEM fields. 

Without including all of our Nation’s brain power in the fight for 21st century 

competitiveness, it is unlikely that our country will remain the world leader in 

science and innovation. It is therefore my hope that this bill will play a major role 

in ensuring our country’s competitiveness in the coming years. 

It is not enough to simply attract women to the STEM fields. We must also ensure 

they stay in those fields, and the second bill in our markup addresses one of the 

reasons women leave the sciences in such high rates: sexual harassment. 

The problem of sexual harassment in the STEM fields has not been addressed in 

a comprehensive fashion. I hope that the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science 

Act of 2019 can play an important role in focusing federal efforts to stamp out sexual harassment in the sciences. 

I want to take a moment to recognize my friend and colleague, Ranking Member 

Lucas, who is an original cosponsor of both of these bills. Both he and his staff have 

provided very constructive input into these bills and the hearings we have held on 

these topics. I think the bills before us today are better off because of these efforts, 

and I want to sincerely thank him and his staff for their work. 

The third bill before us today is the Vera Rubin Survey Telescope Designation Act. 

I’ll speak more about this bill in a minute, but I think it is appropriate that on the 

same day our Committee tries to address the issues facing women in the STEM 

fields, we also take a moment to recognize a woman who overcame the hurdles she 

faced to provide significant contributions to the field of astronomy. 

Finally, we will consider the Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and 

Treatment Act, which is offered by Ms. Wexton. The scourge of opioid addiction is 

one of the most serious problems facing our nation right now. 

It only makes sense to bring all of our resources to bear on this issue, and I think 

the National Science Foundation can bring unique capabilities to the fight to better 

understand and deal with this critical issue. 

I look forward to a productive markup and moving these bills very quickly to the 

House floor. 

13 

Chairwoman JOHNSON. I now recognize the Ranking Member to 

present an opening statement. 

Mr. LUCAS. Thank you, Chairwoman Johnson, for holding this 

markup. 

Today, we’ll consider four bipartisan bills. The first is H.R. 2528, 

STEM Opportunities Act of 2019. H.R. 2528 continues this Committee’s long bipartisan history of supporting and expanding STEM 

education for all. The only way we’ll achieve our potential is by utilizing America’s most valuable resource: Our people. That means 

developing a diverse STEM-capable workforce at every education 

level and from every background. 

One of the key provisions of H.R. 2528 is a requirement for more 

comprehensive data collection and analysis on the students, researchers, and faculty receiving Federal science grants. This data 

will help us identify and reduce the barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from entering and advancing in STEM. It will also 

help us measure the success of Federal STEM programs. 

The bill also includes a provision directing NSF to support computer science education through the existing Tribal Colleges and 

Universities program. Access to computer science resources and the 

development of computing skills is critical in today’s economy. I am 

pleased to join Chairwoman Johnson in cosponsoring this legislation. I want to thank her and her entire staff for working with us 

to refine the bill for reintroduction and incorporating our feedback 

and ideas. I look forward to continuing to work with the Chairwoman and Members of the Committee to advance more STEM 

education efforts for this Congress to support, encourage, and develop the next generation of STEM students. 

Our second bill this morning is H.R. 36, Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019. Chairwoman Johnson and I made 

this one of our highest priorities, introducing it on the first day of 

the 116th Congress. This bill has a foundation of more than a year 

of investigation, analysis, and recommendations to the Science 

Committee. Engaging more women in STEM studies and careers is 

essential to American competitiveness. Women make up half the 

workforce but account for less than 25 percent of America’s STEM 

workforce. 

Unfortunately, too many women have been driven out of STEM 

careers due to a culture of harassment and abuse. H.R. 36 takes 

the first steps to addressing this problem. The bill supports the 

adoption of uniform guidance across the Federal science agencies to 

reduce the prevalence of sexual harassment involving grant personnel. The bill also directs the NSF to conduct further research 

into the causes and consequences of harassment, as well as interventions to mitigate the problem. 

There is an established legal process in place within higher education and in the workplace for handling claims of sexual harassment. This bill does not alter that process. What this bill does do 

is create a uniform policy for universities and research institutions 

to report to Federal science agencies when an administrative action 

is taken that impacts the ability of a researcher to carry out a 

grant. We want to ensure the safety of all grant personnel supported by taxpayer funding. I’ll be offering an amendment later in 

the markup that we hope makes this requirement even more clear. 

14 

Again, thank you, Chairwoman Johnson, for working in a bipartisan and collaborative way to move this legislation forward. 

Next, we will consider H.R. 3196, Vera Rubin Survey Telescope 

Designation Act, sponsored by Chairwoman Johnson and Representative Jenniffer Gonza ́lez-Colo ́n. This bill honors the contributions of the late Dr. Vera Rubin, an astronomer who made 

groundbreaking discoveries in the field of dark matter and was a 

pioneer and life-long advocate for women in astronomy. 

This new LSST (Large Synoptic Survey Telescope), under construction in Chile, funded by the National Science Foundation and 

the Department of Energy, will photograph the entire sky every 

few nights. One of the goals of the project is to study the nature 

of dark matter and dark energy. Naming the observatory in her 

honor is a fitting tribute to the contributions to the field, and I— 

her contributions to the field, I should note, and I hope will inspire 

future generations of women in astronomy. 

Finally, the Committee will consider H.R. 3153, Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment Act. This legislation identifies current gaps that exist in research on the prevention 

and treatment of opioid addiction and authorizes the NSF to support research grants in those areas. 

I want to thank Representative Jennifer Wexton and Representative Jim Baird for their bipartisan work on this bill. Opioid addiction affects too many in our communities, and I applaud this effort 

to support more basic research on the science of addiction. 

Once again, thank you, Chairwoman Johnson, for holding today’s 

markup, and I encourage the Members of the Committee to support 

all these bills. 

I yield back the balance of my time. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Lucas follows:] 

Thank you, Chairwoman Johnson, for holding this mark-up. Today we will consider four bipartisan bills. 

The first is H.R. 2528, STEM Opportunities Act of 2019. H.R. 2528 continues this 

Committee’s long bipartisan history of supporting and expanding STEM education 

for all. 

The only way we’ll achieve our potential is by utilizing America’s most valuable 

resource: our people. That means developing a diverse STEM-capable workforce at 

every education level and from every background. 

One of the key provisions of H.R. 2528 is a requirement for more comprehensive 

data collection and analysis on the students, researchers, and faculty receiving federal science grants. This data will help us identify and reduce the barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from entering and advancing in STEM. It will also 

help us measure the success of federal STEM programs. 

The bill also includes a provision directing NSF to support computer science education through the existing Tribal Colleges and Universities program. Access to computer science resources and the development of computing skills is critical in today’s 

economy. 

I was pleased to join Chairwoman Johnson in co-sponsoring this legislation. I 

want to thank her and her staff for working with us to refine the bill for reintroduction and incorporating our feedback and ideas. 

I look forward to continuing to work with the Chairwoman and members of the 

Committee to advance more STEM education efforts this Congress to support, encourage and develop the next generation of STEM students. 

Our second bill this morning is H.R. 36, Combating Sexual Harassment in Science 

Act of 2019. Chairwoman Johnson and I made this one of our highest priorities, introducing it on the first day of the 116th Congress. This bill has a foundation of 

more than a year of investigation, analysis, and recommendations to the Science 

Committee. 

15 

Engaging more women in STEM studies and careers is essential to American competitiveness. Women make up half of the workforce, but account for less than 25 

percent of America’s STEM workforce. 

Unfortunately, too many women have been driven out of STEM careers due to a 

culture of harassment and abuse. H.R. 36 takes the first steps to addressing this 

problem. The bill supports the adoption of uniform guidance across the federal 

science agencies to reduce the prevalence of sexual harassment involving grant personnel. The bill also directs NSF to conduct further research into the causes and 

consequences of harassment, as well as interventions to mitigate the problem. 

There is an established legal process in place within higher education and in the 

workplace for handling claims of sexual harassment. This bill does not alter that 

process. What this bill does do, is create a new uniform policy that universities and 

research institutions report to federal science agencies when an administrative action is taken that impacts the ability of a researcher to carry out a grant. 

We want to ensure the safety of all grant personnel supported by taxpayer funding. I’ll be offering an amendment later in the mark-up that we hope makes this 

requirement even more clear. 

Again, thank you Chairwoman Johnson for working in a bipartisan and collaborative way to move this legislation forward. 

Next we will consider H.R. 3196, Vera Rubin Survey Telescope Designation Act, 

sponsored by Chairwoman Johnson and Representative Jenniffer Gonza ́lezColo ́n.This bill honors the contributions of the late Dr. Vera Rubin, an astronomer 

who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of dark matter and was a pioneer 

and life-long advocate for women in astronomy. 

The new LSST Telescope under construction in Chile, funded by the National 

Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, will photograph the entire sky 

every few nights. One of the goals of the project is to study the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Naming the observatory in her honor is a fitting tribute to her 

contributions to the field and I hope will inspire future generations of women in astronomy. 

Finally, the Committee will consider H.R. 3153, Expanding Findings for Federal 

Opioid Research and Treatment Act. The legislation identifies current gaps that 

exist in research on the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction and authorizes 

NSF to support research grants in these areas. 

I thank Rep. Jennifer Wexton and Rep. Jim Baird for their bipartisan work on 

this bill. Opioid addiction affects too many in our communities, and I applaud this 

effort to support more basic research on the science of addiction. 

Once again, thank you Chairwoman Johnson for holding today’s mark-up, and I 

encourage the Members of this Committee to support these bills. I yield back the 

balance of my time. 

Chairwoman JOHNSON. Thank you, Mr. Lucas. 

H.R. 2528 

10:13 a.m. 

Chairwoman JOHNSON. We will now consider H.R. 2528, STEM 

Opportunities Act of 2019. The clerk will report the bill. 

The CLERK. H.R. 2528, a bill to direct the Director—— 

[The bill follows:] 

16 


Insert offset folio 18 here HR131.002

143 

116TII CONGRI<JSS H R 3153 1ST SESSIO.:-< 

• • 

To direct the Director of the Xational Science I•'!mndation to support. rcsea1·eh 

on opioid addiction, and for other purposes. 

I~ THE HOUSE OJ.<, l~EPRESE~TATI\'"ES 

Jt•NB 6, 2019 

Ms. WEXTO:" (for herself, :\k BAIRD, :\Is. DKAN, Mr. Com;or,LY, :\Ir. 

l<'ITZP"\TRICK, aud .Mr. Ku,:m:R) introduced the followin~r hill; whieh was 

referred to the Committee on Seienee, Spm~e. and Teehnology 

A BILL 

To direct the Director of the ~ational Science I<.,oundation 

to support research on opioid addiction, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 ti·ves of the United States ofAmerica in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS. 

4 (a) SnoRT TITJ,E.-This Act may be cited as the 

5 "Expanding Findings for l<.,ederal Opioid Research and 

6 Treatment Act" or the "EFFORT Act". 

7 (b) Fmmxos.-The Congress finds that8 (1) research gaps currently exist in the preven9 tion and treatment of opioid addiction; 
17 


Insert offset folio 19 here HR131.003

144 

2 

1 (2) the ~ational Science I<~mmdation's research 

2 on opioid addiction has increased understanding of 

3 the neuroscience of addiction, substance abuse intcr4 vention, the role of illicit supply netvvorks, the sec5 ondary effects on families, the use of' technology to 

6 address the opioid epidemic, and options for alter7 native, non-addictive therapeutics for pain; and 

8 (:3) the National Science Foundation and the 

9 National Institutes of Health have recognized that 

10 fundamental questions in basic, clinical, and 

11 translational research would benefit greatly from 

12 multidisciplinary approaches and collaboration. 

13 SEC. 2. NSF SUPPORT OF RESEARCH ON OPIOID ADDIC· 

14 TION. 

15 '!'he Director of the National Science Foundation, in 

16 consultation with the Dir·ector of the ~ational Institutes 

17 of Health, shall support mcrit-revicv,·ed and competitively 

18 awarded research on the seience of opioid addiction. 

0 

•HR 3153 m 
18 

Chairwoman JOHNSON. Without objection, the bill is considered 

as read and open for amendment at any point. 

And I recognize Ms. Wexton, the bill’s sponsor, to make any comments on the bill. 

Ms. WEXTON. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

I am so pleased to be a part of the bipartisan work that takes 

place in this Committee, and I thank many of my colleagues across 

the aisle for supporting this important legislation. 

The opioid epidemic has taken a heartbreaking toll on families 

across America, including many in my State of Virginia. Tens of 

thousands of Americans and over 1,000 Virginians are dying every 

year from overdoses. Since 2014, overdose fatalities have surpassed 

deaths of motor vehicle crashes and firearms as the top cause of 

unnatural deaths in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and it has only 

gone up since that time. 

Addiction is an illness, and fighting this crisis effectively requires 

adequate research and funding. The National Science Foundation 

has done an exceptional job in establishing some of the 

foundational understanding for the translational and clinical re 

search on opioid addiction, including research regarding the neuroscience of addiction, opioid abuse intervention, and the secondary 

effect on families and options for alternative therapies for pain. 

While this research has significantly increased the Nation’s understanding of opioid addiction, research gaps remain in a wide 

range of disciplines, including social and behavioral issues such as 

stigma, socioeconomic status, or accessibility to treatment. 

The NSF has a unique strength in being able to help us close 

some of these gaps and in turn, help us to develop solutions. My 

legislation, the Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research 

and Treatment, or EFFORT Act, will work to do this by directing 

the NSF to support and conduct multidisciplinary research on 

opioid addiction. Both the NSF and NIH (National Institutes of 

Health) have recognized that research efforts would benefit greatly 

from this multidisciplinary approach. By expanding the NSF’s research on opioid addiction both within its agency, as well as jointly 

with NIH when needed, we can effectively integrate clinical and 

basic research, obtain a broader understanding of opioid addiction 

and its impacts, equip health professionals with new tools to stop 

the cycle of addiction, and establish a more comprehensive effort 

against this crisis. 

As one of the founding members of the bipartisan Freshmen 

Working Group on Addiction, I have worked to be a strong advocate for addiction prevention and recovery efforts, and I am pleased 

to have introduced this legislation with my fellow freshman colleague, Congressman Baird. It’s important that we work to better 

capture the severity of opioid addiction and expand Federal research—expanding Federal research will help us to do just that. I 

urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I 

yield back the balance of my time. 

Chairwoman JOHNSON. Thank you, Ms. Wexton. 

Anyone else wants to be recognized? 

Mr. Baird first and then Mr. Gonzalez. 

19 

Mr. BAIRD. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and Ranking Member Lucas. We appreciate you having this markup on House Resolution 3153. 

You know, the opioid crisis has tragically destroyed the lives of 

many Hoosiers. According to the most recent available data from 

the National Institute of Drug Abuse, in 2017, drug overdose 

deaths in Indiana increased by 22.5 percent from the previous year. 

Indiana’s 200—or 2017 rate of overdose deaths at just over 29 people per 100,000 was significantly higher than the national average 

of just over 21 per 100,000. 

This epidemic does not discriminate, and we must use evidencebased policy to ensure the health and well-being of current and future generations. The National Science Foundation’s research has 

increased what we know about addiction, and while this research 

is at the top of its class, there are still gaps that remain in the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction. 

That’s why I join my colleague Congresswoman Wexton to introduce this EFFORT Act, directing the National Science Foundation, 

in consultation with the National Institutes of Health, to support 

merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the science 

of opioid addiction. By expanding basic research, we can promote 

great collaboration and further understand how we better treat the 

multiple aspects of the opioid addiction. I hope we can see an end 

to this crisis soon, and I am proud that Congress is taking action 

to fight back. And I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill. 

And I yield back. 

Chairwoman JOHNSON. Thank you very much. 

Anyone else wishing to be recognized? Mr. Gonzalez. 

Mr. GONZALEZ. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and 

Ranking Member, for holding this important markup. And I’m 

pleased to see this Committee again move bipartisan bills to the 

House floor. 

I also want to thank my colleagues Congresswoman Wexton and 

Congressman Baird for their leadership to introduce legislation 

that prioritizes research on the prevention and treatment of opiate 

addiction. We cannot do enough to help those families suffering 

from the terrible consequences of this scourge. 

The opioid epidemic has ravaged entire communities in my home 

State of Ohio. According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention) data, five counties with the highest per capita of 

fentanyl-related overdose death—overdose deaths are in the State 

of Ohio. Additionally, the CDC estimates the total economic burden 

of prescription opioid misuse alone in our country is $78.5 billion 

a year. 

That’s why I’m pleased to support this legislation that will require the NSF and NIH to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the science of opioid addiction. Furthering research on improving prevention and treatment for addiction will help our communities confront this horrific epidemic in a 

more holistic way. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support 

the Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment Act and provide much-needed research on opioid addiction impacting many of our communities. With that, thank you, and I 

yield back. 

20 

Chairwoman JOHNSON. Thank you very much. 

Any further comments? 

[The prepared statement of Ms. Sherrill follows:] 

For my guest to the State of the Union this year, I brought Donna Andelora from 

Wayne, New Jersey. Donna lost her son Joey at the age of 22 to a heroin overdose, 

and after his death started the Lost Angels Bereavement Group to help local families cope with loved ones lost to drug overdoses or struggling with opioid addiction. 

There are too many mothers like Donna in our country who face the scourge of 

addiction. Too many families like the Andeloras who have been ripped apart by 

over-prescription, ease of access to opioids, and the lack of resources to fight this 

epidemic. 

New Jersey knows this pain all too well. In 2018, we lost more than 3,000 residents to overdose—that’s an average of 8 people each day. That’s more than the national average in a given year. Towns and counties in my district are working hard 

to address this issue. However, it is clear that the scope and scale of the addiction 

epidemic requires federal action. 

The Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment Act or EFFORT Act, which I am proud to co-sponsor, identifies gaps that currently exist in 

the research on the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction and authorizes the 

National Science Foundation to support research grants in these areas. The addiction epidemic plaguing our country is a complicated and multifaceted problem that 

will require an equally complex solution. This research will help advance our understanding of how to effectively address and combat the opioid and addiction epidemic. 

Hearing none, are there any amendments? 

If not, then a reporting quorum being present, I move that the 

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology report H.R. 3153 to 

the House with the recommendation that the bill be approved. 

Those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. 

Those opposed, no. 

The ayes have it, and the bill is favorably reported. 

Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table, 

and I ask unanimous consent that the staff be authorized to make 

any necessary technical and conforming changes to the bill. 

Without objection, so ordered. 

Members have 2 subsequent calendar days in which to submit 

supplementary, minority, or additional views on this measure. 

Let me just say before we adjourn that I want to thank all of the 

staff on both sides of the aisle and all the Members for the great 

input that has brought us to marking up these bipartisan bills, and 

I hope that that participation will continue. Input is important 

from everyone, and I appreciate your participation. And I thank 

you for attending. 

And that concludes our markup for today, and the Committee is 

adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 10:53 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 

Æ