macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 4976. the Opioid Review Modernization Act. We know that there is not one solution addressing the opioid crisis that is striking communities across the country. A comprehensive approach that balances the appropriate use of opioids. while deterring misuse and diversion. requires the involvement of many government agencies. including the Food and Drug Administration. As the agency tasked with reviewing pain medications for safety and effectiveness. we know that the FDA can play a critical role in addressing the safe use of these products for patients with chronic or acute pain. I was pleased when the FDA announced earlier this year that the agency developed a comprehensive action plan to help reduce the burden of opioid abuse on American families and communities. In this plan. the FDA outlined concrete steps it intended to take. including: Expanding its use of advisory committees before approving any new opioid drug that does not have abusedeterrent properties. Updating the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program to incorporate advisory committee recommendations regarding medical training on pain management and safe prescribing of opioids. and Taking actions to expand patient access to abusedeterrent formulations for opioids to help discourage their abuse. The Opioid Review Modernization Act builds on these efforts and would require the FDA to work closely with expert advisory committees before making critical opioid approach and labeling decisions. develop recommendations regarding prescriber education programs that address extendedrelease and longacting opioids. including those who should participate and how often. and encouraging development and approval of generic opioids with abusedeterrent properties. H.R. 4976 will engage a key public agency. the FDA. to help address our current opioid crisis by improving regulatory oversight of opioids early in the process while also assisting prescribers in the safe dispensing of these products. I would like to thank Representative SEAN PATRICK MALONEY and Congressman LEONARD LANCE for their leadership in introducing this bill. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4976. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

for their leadership on this overall issue. We on the Energy and Commerce Committee have worked in a completely bipartisan fashion on this terrible crisis that affects the American people. Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 4976. the Opioid Review Modernization Act. I thank Congressman SEAN PATRICK MALONEY from the State of New York for his partnership on this legislation. and I certainly thank Chairman UPTON and Ranking Member PALLONE of the Energy and Commerce Committee for leading this and many other bipartisan bills to passage today that address this pressing national issue. This bill and the larger package together are a great step forward in the fight against the scourge of drug addiction. In my home State of New Jersey. we face a drug epidemic that is hitting many communities hard. and that is true across the entire Nation. This crisis strains law enforcement and taxpayer resources. and. of course. tragically. it cuts too many lives short. H.R. 4976 targets opioid addictions strong ties to prescription drug abuse and the issue of overprescription. Studies have shown healthcare providers write nearly 300 million opioid prescriptions a year in this country. That number is truly staggering. Our legislation will make sure that the Food and Drug Administration rigorously reviews the benefits and risks of opioid pain medications and how they are communicated to prescribers and patients. The bill reforms critical product approval and labeling decisions and encourages the development and approval of opioids with abusedeterrent properties. Our Federal health agencies must be working in concert with the medical and pharmaceutical communities to combat drug abuse. and this legislation helps make that happen. Just last week I met with Hunterdon County. New Jersey. Prosecutor Anthony Kearns on what law enforcement is doing on the ground level to fight this epidemic. In New Jersey. Mr. Speaker. the county prosecutor is the equivalent of the county district attorney in most States across the Nation. Public servants like Prosecutor Kearns and others are doing all they can to protect our children and keep our local communities drug free. but this legislative package will help in their efforts and give them and other governmental entities more critical tools. Those in Washington and local leaders need to be working together for the benefit of the American people. H.R. 4976 and the larger package will work toward that goal and ultimately help combat this drug abuse crisis.
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I thank my good friend from Texas for yielding. I want to echo my thanks as well to Chairman UPTON and Ranking Member PALLONE and my good friend. Mr. LANCE of New Jersey. I rise in support of my legislation. H.R. 4976. the Opioid Review Modernization Act. Heroin and opioid addiction is a serious and growing epidemic. especially in the communities I represent in the lower Hudson Valley of New York. After more than 55 townhalls with my neighbors across the Hudson Valley in the last 31/2 years. I can say there is no subject I have heard about more in visits to communities throughout my district. Really. everywhere I go. I hear heartbreaking stories of addiction and of loss. and we have had far too many funerals. I spoke to a woman named Cynthia in Newburgh who told me her son struggles every day with addiction. He is trying to stay clean. but he cant find a meeting locally to visit. A woman named Samantha from Brewster said she is worried about the basic lack of options for treating addicts like her son. Patricia in Warwick has said the facilities there lack the basic necessities for treating addicts like her son. We have a shortage of beds for patients who are seeking treatment. In Dutchess County. New York. alone. we have seen a 160 percent increase in the number of drug overdoses since 2009. This epidemic is being felt nationwide. It doesnt care about the color of your skin or the size of your paycheck. Deaths from heroin overdoses have more than tripled since 2010 in our country. and it is often driven by an addiction first to prescription pain medicine. We now have more than 47.000 people dying a year. the equivalent of 125 Americans every day. It is a staggering figure. Mr. Speaker. and we in Congress can and must do more to fight this growing epidemic. So my bill takes an important. but simple. step to avoid opioid addiction and to avoid further loss by using both new technologies and a little common sense. Specifically. it would require the Food and Drug Administration to consult with expert advisory committees for the approval of new opioids that do not use deterrent properties. such as extendedrelease capsules. We know this can thwart the misuse of these products by people who are struggling with addiction. Additionally. the legislation will encourage the development of generic opioids that utilize these abusedeterrent properties. And. of course. the FDA can do more. We can require them to evaluate and make recommendations on better programs to prevent prescribers of opioids from overprescribing. since we often hear that it is that overprescription that leads people into trouble with opioids and. later. with heroin. As part of a comprehensive package of legislation to combat the opioid epidemic. my bill is just one more tool in our toolkit. providing incentives for pharmaceutical companies to use antiabuse technologies and create a plan to educate our wellmeaning doctors about the potential dangers of prescription opioids. I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on this important measure.
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise to voice my support for H.R. 3680. the CoPrescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act. We must do more to prevent opioid addiction and ensure those currently suffering have access to potentially lifesaving treatments. Naloxone has been proven effective in reversing opioid overdoses. and it is a costeffective public health intervention. Naloxone blocks and reverses the effects of opioid medication and is used to treat narcotic overdose in emergency situations. In addition to recent efforts to improve access to naloxone through first responders and communitybased health organizations. providing naloxone to atrisk patients in a healthcare setting may reduce overdoses and encourage patients to use prescription drugs more safely. [ 1645 The CoPrescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act would create a demonstration grant program to facilitate coprescribing of naloxone when appropriate. Coprescribing refers to the practice of prescribing that naloxone alongside an opioid prescription to patients with heightened risk of overdose. This could include patients who take significant doses of opioids for longterm chronic pain management. patients with a history of substance abuse. or patients who have been discharged from emergency care following poisoning or intoxication from an opiate. The bill would further authorize funding to train healthcare providers and pharmacists on coprescribing. establish mechanisms for tracking patients and their health outcomes. and other efforts to expand access to naloxone. We must act swiftly in order to save lives and stem the growing prescription drug epidemic in our country. The CoPrescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act is an important step toward preventing overdose deaths. which is a critical part of the fight against our devastating drug crisis. I want to thank the bills sponsor. the gentleman from Maryland. Representative JOHN SARBANES. who is a member of our Subcommittee on Health. for his leadership in introducing this bill. I urge my colleagues to support the CoPrescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am happy to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland . my colleague on the committee.
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 3680 the "CoPrescribing To Reduce Overdoses Act of 2015." This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a grant program to support prescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs. such as naloxone. for patients at an elevated risk of overdose. including patients prescribed an opioid. Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium. such as heroin and certain pain medications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 259 million opioid prescriptions were written in 2012. more than enough for every adult in the United States. In 2013 nearly 4.5 million people in the United States without a valid medical need were using prescription painkillers. Both states and the federal government have begun responding to this growing public health crisis. The Obama administration has awarded $94 million to community health centers to improve and expand the delivery of substance abuse services. H.R. 3680 would encourage and train health care providers to prescribe lifesaving overdose reversal drugs. Enacting this legislation will help reduce drug overdoses across the country by giving atrisk patients better access to lifesaving overdose reversal drugs. The plague of opioid overdose deaths across the nation is disturbing. but there are ways to combat this trend. H.R. 3680 is supported by the American Medical Association. the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the Harm Reduction Coalition. A party. or organization receiving a grant under this legislation will use the grant for the following reasons: 1. To establish a program for coprescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs. 2. To train and provide resources for health care providers and pharmacists on the coprescribing of opioid reversal drugs. 3. To establish mechanisms and processes for tracking patients participating in the program. 4. To purchase opioid overdose reversal drugs for distribution. 5. To offset the copays and other cost sharing associated with opioid overdose reversal drugs to ensure that cost is not a limiting factor for eligible patients. 6. To conduct community outreach. in conduction with community based organizations. designed to raise awareness of coprescribing practices and the availability of opioid overdose reversal drugs. 7. To establish protocols to connect patients who have experienced a drug overdose with appropriate treatment. including medications assisted treatment and appropriate counseling and behavioral therapies. Mr. Speaker. the mounting number of people adversely affected and the over 25.000 lives lost expressly demonstrates the need for this type of legislation. H.R. 3680 is a positive step in the right direction and I urge all members to support this important legislation.
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker and Members. I rise to voice my support for H.R. 4978. the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act. Nearly every community in every State has been impacted by heroin and opioid addiction. Tragically. newborns are the most vulnerable victims of this epidemic. It is estimated that every 25 minutes. a baby is born suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome. or opioid withdrawal. According to a study by the New England Journal of Medicine. from 2004 to 2013. the incidence of NAS has quadrupled. Neonatal abstinence syndrome. or NAS. arises from the exposure to opioids during pregnancy and impacts far too many of our Nations newborns. Maternal exposure to opioids can be caused by both nonprescription and prescription medication. and the subsequent neonatal withdrawal can result in extended hospital stays and severe. heartbreaking symptoms. NAS is associated with preterm births and low birth weight complications such as respiratory distress and seizures. H.R. 4978. the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act. is an important part of our efforts to combat drug abuse. The legislation will expand our knowledge of care and treatment for babies with NAS. It will direct the GAO to identify the prevalence of NAS and the number of cases covered by Medicaid. the setting of care for these infants. and identify access barriers to treatment. H.R. 4978 will further our ability to meet this crisis headon and provide Americas children the healthy start they deserve. I want to thank the bills sponsor. Representative CHERI BUSTOS. for her leadership in introducing this bill and urge my colleagues to support the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise and voice my support for H.R. 3691. the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act. The Pregnant and Postpartum WomenPPWprogram is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationSAMHSACenter for Substance Abuse Treatment. The program was designed to expand the availability of comprehensive residential substance abuse treatment. prevention. and recovery support services for pregnant and postpartum women and their children. The program provides grants to public and nonprofit private entities to provide substance use disorder treatment to women in residential facilities. For too long our laws have taken a punitive approach with pregnant women and new mothers suffering from addiction. Criminal approaches have failed to work. Solutions should emphasize a nonpunitive. public health approach like the PPW program. Substance abuse treatment that supports the family as a unit has proven effective for maintaining sobriety and enhancing child wellbeing. Given the magnitude of this epidemic. there is a need for increased availability of treatment options that are responsive to womens complex responsibilities. H.R. 3691 reauthorizes residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women. This vital program provides for substance use treatment for women in need as well as their minor children. Familybased treatment services include individual and family counseling. prenatal and postpartum care. and training on parenting. The bill will also create a pilot program to allow up to 25 percent of the grants to be made for outpatient treatment services. This will give State substance abuse agencies greater flexibility to provide access to treatment and address gaps in delivery of care for pregnant and postpartum women. including services in nonresidential settings. and encourage new approaches of services available to pregnant women along the continuum of care. I want to thank the bills sponsor. Representative BEN RAY LUJAN. who is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Health Subcommittee. for his leadership in introducing this bill. I urge my colleagues to support the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. I would like to start by thanking the chairman and ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Health for their bipartisan efforts to address the Nations drug crisis and for advancing my legislation. the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act. Our Nation continues to face a substance abuse crisis that is tearing apart communities and families. In New Mexico. we have seen a crisis that is multigenerational. with people growing up in communities where abuse is commonplace. The grant program for residential treatment that my bill enhances is an important part of our effort to break the cycle of drug abuse that grips our communities. My bill would also increase funding for the Pregnant and Postpartum Women grant. As originally written. my bill contained an authorization of $40 million. significantly above the current level. to avoid any cuts to existing residential programs. Through bipartisan cooperation. we arrived at a small increase over the next 5 years. By focusing on women with young children and soontobe mothers. we help ensure that these families get on the right path from the very beginning. People want to be better. But. unfortunately. too often there are too few resources and avenues for help. Certainly this is true in New Mexico. which is among the States most impacted by the epidemic plaguing our country. Too many people are suffering. and too many people are being shut out from access to help. This bill helps address this by creating a demonstration project in the existing Pregnant and Postpartum Women grant program to allow grants to be used for nonresidential care. Residential programs are critically important where they are available. In my home State of New Mexico. there are far too few residential programs to serve the needs of my constituents. In addition. many of the existing facilities have wait lists. With New Mexicos vastness. residential facilities are out of reach for too many. That is why this demonstration project is critical. It will allow us. while continuing to support residential treatment programs. to explore how to ensure the services and care we are providing work for those in need. While I am pleased that we have been able to work together across the aisle in an effort to authorize increased funding and ensure the inclusion of the demonstration project. I think it is important to say more must be done. Supporting residential facilities and innovation to make treatment more available is essential. and both will require significant investments. Mr. Speaker. in 2014. 47.055 people died from drug overdoses. That is 129 people per day. We must do more. I hope that. as we continue this conversation beyond today. we can all come to recognize the need for funding above and beyond what we are doing today. I respectfully ask for support of this bill.
Date: 2016-05-11
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1818. the Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act. Our Nations servicemen and -women receive some of the best medical training and experience in emergency medicine while serving our country. Their commitment to duty. training. realworld experience. and ability to work effectively in challenging environments make them exceptionally well suited for working as emergency medical technicians. EMTs. upon their return to civilian life. However. experienced military medics who want to work in civilian EMT jobs are often required to repeat their medical training at the most basic level to receive certification in order to be hired. Depending on the State. a returning veteran may have to obtain or renew their EMS license. The requirements can vary significantly by State. This is an unnecessary impediment for both our service personnel and our communities that are in need of qualified emergency medical service personnel. We should not be keeping veterans out of the workforce and withholding valuable medical personnel from supporting our communities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. approximately 55.000 new civilian EMT and paramedic jobs have already been or will be created between 2012 and 2022. Highly skilled and properly trained veterans are well positioned to fill these essential provisions. H.R. 1818 will authorize a demonstration grant program for States to streamline certification and licensure requirements for returning veterans with military EMT training so they can work as civilian EMTs as quickly as possible. Streamlining the licensing process will make it easier for the civilian EMS community to hire experienced combat medics. This is not only beneficial to our veterans. but also to our communities. and it will enhance the level of care that is provided to our citizens. I thank the bills sponsorsRepresentative Lois CAPPS. who is a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and of our Subcommittee on Health. and Congressman ADAM KINZINGERfor introducing and championing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.