State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2021

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2379) to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to reauthorize and expand a grant program for State response to the opioid use disorders crisis, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in

which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2379.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2379, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2021.

The substance use and opioid crisis continues to be a public health emergency and has evolved into a devastating dual threat when combined with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opioids are the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Tragically, last year, more than 93,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose. That is the highest 12-month death toll since the beginning of the opioid epidemic.

Now, experts suspect that the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated this terrible record last year. Overall, it is estimated that more than 20 million Americans have a substance use disorder. While treatment and services are available, many do not have access to or are not aware of the care in their communities.

H.R. 2379 basically supports our ongoing work to combat the opioid crisis, and the legislation enhances our efforts in the 21st Century Cures Act and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. It does this by authorizing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration State Opioid Response grant program, better known as SAMHSA's SOR grant program.

The bill also aligns the authorization with authorities included in the 21st Century Cures Act.

Although the SAMHSA grant program has been funded through the appropriations process since 2018, it does not have a statutory authorization. This legislation provides that important authorization and ensures future funding.

Today, the SOR grants are used to enhance prevention and recovery activities across the States, including support services to address stimulant misuse and use disorders. These grants also reduce barriers to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, which is critical to addressing the treatment gap and reducing the number of overdose deaths.

This bill also provides Congress more information and transparency about existing funding, including the formula used to make allocations to States. This information will allow us to examine how changes to these allocations impact the progress States are making to address the opioid crisis.

It is important for this program to direct resources to communities most in need or where surges in opioid or stimulant use are occurring, and this information will help us make sure that resources are getting to where they are needed the most.

I want to thank the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone), for his leadership on this issue. I also want to thank my Republican committee colleagues for their support on this legislation, as we continue our work to address the substance use crisis in this country.

Madam Speaker, the bill unanimously passed the House last year. I urge my colleagues to support it once again today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone), the author of the bill.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Madam Speaker I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

Madam Speaker, again, this is a very important bill addressing the opioid epidemic with these various grant programs.

Madam Speaker, I would ask for support on a bipartisan basis, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2379 to extend and broaden our efforts to help Americans with substance use disorder get the help they need to help prevent addiction and to save lives.

I thank my friends, Mr. Trone and Ms. Sherrill, for their leadership.

Earlier this year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced

that opioid response grantees will now be able to use these funds to expand access to fentanyl test strips.

Tragically, that announcement came just 1 month after the death of my dear nephew, Eli Weinstock.

At just 20 years old, Eli died of an unintentional fentanyl overdose after ingesting a legal herbal supplement tainted with fentanyl.

Out of our grief, Eli's family created an organization, BirdieLight, to increase awareness of fentanyl risks and the tools like fentanyl test strips needed to save lives.

From 2019 to 2020, overdose deaths spiked by over 22,000 to a record 93,331 Americans who died of overdose in 2020.

Young people aged 15 to 24 saw a nearly 50 percent increase in 1 year.

Last month, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued its first public safety alert in 6 years to warn of the surge of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.

The DEA has seized over 11.3 million fake pills over the past year, more than the previous 2 years combined.

Fentanyl has been found in fake imitations of real prescription medications, including oxycodone, Xanax, and stimulants like Adderall.

These substances are easily acquired on social media platforms or from friends who have no idea where they came from or what is in them.

We need to talk about this. We need to change this. We need to act.

We need to do it for Eli and for the hundreds of Americans who die of overdose every day in this country.

This legislation is an important first step. I urge my colleagues to vote for it.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2379, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act. This important bill authorizes the appropriations for the State Opioid Response grant program administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The United States still remains in the midst of an opioid crisis that has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal grants have provided a substantial level of support to States that are on the front lines of addressing substance use disorders, including opioid and stimulant use disorders.

H.R. 2379 would ensure continued, predictable support for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts for several years. I support passage of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Maryland for the kind words.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis), my friend and an important member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I think this is a good bill. It is an important bill.

All of our States have been affected by the opioid crisis, so it is good that we are here today focusing on this in a bipartisan way working together.

Madam Speaker, I urge the support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support my bill, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act.

This bipartisan bill directly addresses the worsening opioid crisis by authorizing $10.5 billion over 6 years in grants to States and Tribes. This funding will prevent and treat those suffering from addiction.

During Recovery Month last month, I met with several healthcare providers to discuss the challenges faced by those in recovery. We hear time and time again how individuals in recovery often struggle to access the resources they need.

This bill meets the moment by giving States and Tribes the consistent, necessary funding they need to meet their specific needs.

I want to thank Energy and Commerce Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers, and Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Eshoo, and my friend, Subcommittee Ranking Member Guthrie, for considering this bill.

I thank our bipartisan sponsors. In particular, I want to thank Congresswoman Sherrill, Congressman Baird, and Congressman Armstrong for their advocacy. I am so grateful to the members of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force for helping us get this over the finish line.

When we put aside partisan politics and focus on the real issues and work hard, we can make a difference. For these reasons, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2379, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act.

This legislation provides critical resources to State and local governments combating the opioid crisis that has crippled communities across the United States, including Utah.

This legislation will give State and local governments flexibility in addressing this tragic epidemic in their communities.

For example, in Utah there are significant socioeconomic differences between Price and Orem, two communities I represent that are both fighting addiction.

We have to allow experts on the ground to address these challenges accordingly, which is why I strongly support this legislation.

Equally as important is ensuring we have the workforce to treat individuals suffering with addiction.

That is why I recently introduced the Helping Enable Access to Lifesaving Services Act, or the HEALS Act.

The HEALS Act would complement the State opioid response grants with targeted Federal dollars to help train future behavioral healthcare workers in areas of high need.

Taken together, these are the necessary steps to fight addiction in communities across our country, which has taken the lives of nearly 100,000 Americans in this past year alone.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2379 and my legislation, the HEALS Act.