Diaz-Balart Joins House Colleagues in Passing 38 Bills to Combat Opioid Crisis
WASHINGTON – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) issued the following statement after the House concluded votes for the week on a series of bills that address the opioid crisis.
"Our country faces a growing opioid crisis, and I was proud to join my colleagues in voting for 38 bills this week that target this public health issue. Every day, 115 Americans succumb to an opioid overdose. It does not see color, age, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. The House continues the work of the 21st Century Cures Act in passing additional legislation this week, and in the coming weeks and months, to curb the deadly impact of opioids on our families. We must continue to work to do what we can as legislators, and as parents, brothers, sisters, and children, to put an end to this dangerous and cruel epidemic.
"I thank Speaker Ryan and Chairman Walden for their leadership on this issue, and I urge our Senate colleagues to expeditiously consider these bills."
The House of Representatives considered bills addressing four key areas of the opioid crisis: treatment and recovery, prevention, protecting communities, and fighting fentanyl. A full list of bills considered can be found here.
Included in the bills passed this week are:
- H.R. 5735, the Transitional Housing for Recovery in Viable Environments Demonstration Program Act, which sets aside public housing vouchers to help those in evidence-based treatment programs to get back on their feet with a time-limited voucher.
- H.R. 5197, the Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department Act, which runs a pilot program to encourage emergency departments and their medical professionals to utilize alternative methods for pain management, limiting the use of opioids and the potential for misuse.
- H.R. 2851, the Stop the Importation and Trafficking of Synthetic Analogues Act, which gives the Attorney General more flexibility in issuing the temporary schedule of a synthetic substance when it is similar to an already existing illegal substance.
- H.R. 5788, theSynthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act, holds the United States Postal Service accountable and requires the collection of advance electronic data on all international shipments, making it easier for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents to target packages for inspection and seizure.
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