Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the SUPPORT Act, comprehensive bipartisan legislation to address the overdose crisis across this country.

In 2022, nearly 110,000 Americans died because of substance use disorder or overdose. No community in this country is immune to this crisis. As we head into the holidays, thousands of families will have an empty seat at their table. We can and must do more to help save lives, expand access to treatment, and address the substance use disorder crisis. That is why passing the SUPPORT Act is so critical.

While I wish this legislation had been passed earlier this year before these programs expired, I am pleased that the House is now taking up this legislation to reauthorize the SUPPORT Act and to ensure that local communities nationwide have the tools to address substance use disorder at the local level.

Tackling the overdose crisis requires an all-of-the-above approach. I hope this legislation can serve as a building block to strengthen our national approach to this crisis and help save lives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie and his team for his partnership to get this over the finish line. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important legislation and to work with us to address this crisis.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source