ACE Research Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for yielding and thank both Chairman Walden and Chairman Burgess for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 5002, the ACE Research Act, which I am proud to author with my dear friend and colleague from Michigan, Fred Upton.

I have lived on all sides of the opioid epidemic. My father was addicted to opioids before anyone knew what it was or before anybody talked about it. My sister died of a drug overdose. My husband lives in chronic pain, and because there are no alternative drugs that are safe for him to take, he requires opioids for his debilitating pain.

We cannot let the pendulum swing too far in either direction, and we need to find medication for those who need it. Mr. Speaker, 25 million Americans suffer from pain every single day. While pain may not be the fifth vital sign, it is still a major issue that needs to be addressed in modern medicine.

We cannot stigmatize people who legitimately suffer from real pain. That will only make the opioid epidemic worse.

If you have lived with someone in chronic pain like I have, you know how complicated this is. People in chronic pain are being stigmatized now for seeking treatment that will allow them to live a decent life. People are coming up to me with metastatic cancer, concerned that they are not going to be able to get medicine to take care of their pain.

Unfortunately, here is a reality none of us talk about: Nonopioid pain medicines, like Tylenol or Motrin, come with serious side effects, especially for those who take them every day.

One thing on which we can all agree is that we need more alternatives to opioids in this country. This way, we can give people the relief that they need from crippling pain while not subjecting them to the risk of addiction.

This is going to require a lot of work and a lot of research to accomplish, which is why it is so essential that this work begin now. The ACE Research Act accomplishes this goal by spurring innovative research into nonopioid pain medications at NIH, which will ultimately lead to the next big breakthrough and bring benefits to patients.

This bill gives the NIH director what is known as Other Transaction Authority, so the NIH will be able to more easily partner with innovative companies who are working with cutting-edge technology to address the opioid drug crisis and other public health threats.

In congressional testimony earlier this year, NIH Director Francis Collins said that giving the agency this authority would improve their ability to do the research into nonopioid drug alternatives. We heard that, and that is what we are trying to do today. It is what we are delivering on.

There are so many people focused on the opioid epidemic these days, but many small startup companies are hesitant to partner with the Federal Government on research because the terms of a grant or a contract are too rigid and no other options are available to them.

The ACE Research Act will ensure that NIH is able to partner with real innovators on research. You never know where that next breakthrough might lie, and this bill will ensure that we leave no stone uncovered. By funding research on new treatments quicker, we are ensuring that we are going to reach patients faster.

A future with more effective nonopioid, nonaddictive drugs is a future that we all want. That is something on which we all agree.

I want to thank my friend and colleague, Fred Upton, for working with me on this. This is a first step toward ensuring we are doing the best research in the country on alternatives to

opioids for pain medication. I also want to thank our chairman and our ranking member, and all the members, for making today the first step.

I know too well what the pain is across this country, and what we are doing today is a beginning. We need to work together in a bipartisan way to address what is hurting families across this country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5002.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5002, the ACE Research Act.

It is undeniable that more money, resources, and research needs to go into solving the many addictions, diseases, and disorders that face our society today.

H.R. 5002 amends the Public Health Service Act by augmenting the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives, by introducing more critical research that will strengthen the understanding and yield cures to the myriad of health problems that are facing Americans today.

The ACE Research Act will provide the National Institutes of Health with the necessary authority, resources and support it needs to further research and increase the fundamental biological understanding of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders.

Additionally, the research initiatives undertaken by the National Institutes of Health may be supported through transactions other than contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements under the ACE Research Act.

The ACE Research Act will provide the National Institutes of Health with the measures to implement high impact, cutting-edge research necessary to combat public health threats.

Further, the National Institutes of Health will be able to partner with companies that have the technology and resources to administer this cutting-edge research.

The National Institutes of Health conducts tremendous, groundbreaking research that investigates the causes and remedies of diseases, addictions, ailments, and other public health areas for all people.

Moreover, the National Institutes of Health is the leading government agency that is responsible for essential public health and biomedical research, which helps Americans combat the health concerns that arise daily.

The ACE Research Act will support the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives in finding cures to the growing opioid addiction in America today.

Opioid addiction, which includes the overuse of illicit and prescription drugs, is taking the lives of Americans across our nation each day.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report cited 63,632 drug overdose deaths in 2016 in America, 42,249 of which were related to opioid overdoses.

In 2016, there were 1,375 opioid-related overdose deaths in Texas, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In the city of Houston, there were 364 drug-related overdose deaths alone that happened in 2016 according to the Treatment Center, a highly respected drug and alcohol addiction treatment service center.

Therefore, it is vital that research is done concerning drug abuse and addictions, as it has been a long-term problem in our society.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is ``a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry.''

Addiction is not a choice, a moral feeling, or a lack of will-power; it is a disease of the brain that requires proper treatment.

Addiction is a longstanding mental and physical illness that many Americans are facing today, leading to their lives being compromised, and in some cases even leading to their death.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is overseeing important research to respond to this epidemic, and this bill responds favorably to its request for more flexibility in conducting research on treatments for opioid addiction and other disease areas.

This research may lead to scientific advances that may find solutions to the opioid crisis, as well as solutions to other addictions and public health threats.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5002, which will expand the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives to include valuable research that will address the multitude of health concerns facing Americans today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5002, the ACE Research Act.

It is undeniable that more money, resources, and research needs to go into solving the many addictions, diseases, and disorders that face our society today.

H.R. 5002 amends the Public Health Service Act by augmenting the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives, by introducing more critical research that will strengthen the understanding and yield cures to the myriad of health problems that are facing Americans today.

The ACE Research Act will provide the National Institutes of Health with the necessary authority, resources and support it needs to further research and increase the fundamental biological understanding of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders.

Additionally, the research initiatives undertaken by the National Institutes of Health may be supported through transactions other than contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements under the ACE Research Act.

The ACE Research Act will provide the National Institutes of Health with the measures to implement high impact, cutting-edge research necessary to combat public health threats.

Further, the National Institutes of Health will be able to partner with companies that have the technology and resources to administer this cutting-edge research.

National Institutes of Health conducts tremendous, groundbreaking research that investigates the causes and remedies of diseases, addictions, ailments, and other public health areas for all people.

Moreover, the National Institutes of Health is the leading government agency that is responsible for essential public health and biomedical research, which helps Americans combat the health concerns that arise daily.

The ACE Research Act will support the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives in finding cures to the growing opioid addiction in America today.

Opioid addiction, which includes the overuse of illicit and prescription drugs, is taking the lives of Americans across our nation each day.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report cited 63,632 drug overdose deaths in 2016 in America, 42,249 of which were related to opioid overdoses.

In 2016, there were 1,375 opioid-related overdose deaths in Texas, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In the city of Houston, there were 364 drug-related overdose deaths alone that happened in 2016 according to the Treatment Canter, a highly respected drug and alcohol addiction treatment service center.

Therefore, it is vital that research is done concerning drug abuse and addictions, as it has been a long-term problem in our society.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is ``a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry.''

Addiction is not a choice, a moral feeling, or a lack of will-power; it is a disease of the brain that requires proper treatment.

Addiction is a longstanding mental and physical illness that many Americans are facing today, leading to their lives being compromised, and in some cases even leading to their death.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is overseeing important research to respond to this epidemic, and this bill responds favorably to its request for more flexibility in conducting research on treatments for opioid addiction and other disease areas.

This research may lead to scientific advances that may find solutions to the opioid crisis, as well as solutions to other addictions and public health threats.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5002, which will expand the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives to include valuable research that will address the multitude of health concerns facing Americans today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5002) to expand the unique research initiatives authority of the National Institutes of Health.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my support for H.R. 5002, the Advancing Cutting Edge Research Act.

This important bill gives the National Institutes of Health a critical tool to help combat the opiate crisis by giving the National Institutes of Health director more flexibility to conduct innovative research and to spur urgently needed research on new, nonaddictive pain medications.

By providing these authorities, the National Institutes of Health will be able to more easily partner with innovative companies with cutting-edge technology to address the opiate crisis and other public health threats.

I do want to thank colleagues from Michigan, Representatives Dingell and former Chairman Fred Upton, for leading this important initiative.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the principal author on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I want to wholeheartedly agree with the comments we just heard from the gentlewoman from Michigan. It is imperative that we guard against the pendulum swinging too far in either direction.

One of the very first hearings I attended as the newest member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health in 2005 was a hearing on why doctors do not prescribe adequate pain relief for their patients who are in pain.

Now we fast-forward today, to the significant number of drug overdose deaths, many of those attributed to opiates that this country has seen in the past several years, and, clearly, it is important that the committee do something. It is important that in doing something, we do not further damage those people who are stable and depending upon a pain medication regimen that works for them. But going forward, we need to find, if we can, a way out of this predicament in the future for future patients.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bipartisan bill and in strong support of our continued efforts to combat this terrible opioid epidemic that has ravaged virtually every community across the country and so many families as well.

We all know someone who is impacted and affected by this epidemic, and certainly my corner of the State is no different than any other part of the country. We are struggling.

There have been real bipartisan efforts, wins, in recent years, to address the problem. CARA, as Chairman Walden said a little bit earlier, as part of 21st Century Cures, provided billions of dollars for communities across the country and is delivering real results to those who are suffering. Clearly, more work is demanded and remains.

This bill, the ACE Research Act, is part of that work. It is a bipartisan bill that I have had the pleasure to work on with my good colleague and friend from Michigan, Debbie Dingell. It is a balanced bill that better allows the National Institutes of Health to partner with innovative companies doing cutting-edge research to get nonaddictive pain medication to those in need. That is what this bill does. It is essential in combating the opioid epidemic.

During the hearings that we held in the Energy and Commerce Committee, Francis Collins, the director of the NIH, requested that the NIH be given more flexibility to pursue these new avenues. I know that my colleague Debbie Dingell and I both had dinner last week with Francis Collins, and he was very excited to hear that it was scheduled for the House floor today. We look forward to its passage.

The advances in innovation can offer real hope to those who are suffering. Folks in Michigan and across the country are counting on the power of innovation to help us solve the opioid crisis. Let's give them what they deserve and pass this legislation. I look forward to getting it to the President's desk.