E-Newsletter

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the conference report to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S. 524):

“Our nation is in the throes of a real, devastating opioid epidemic that is plaguing our communities.  My colleagues and I on the Energy and Commerce Committee have been working to attack this crisis, focusing on such steps as treating addiction and overdoses, addressing prevention and education, collaborating with law enforcement officials, and more.  This conference report, which deals with many different issues driving the opioid crisis, comes after much bipartisan work, and it has earned the support of more than 200 of our country’s leading advocacy groups, many of whom are on the front lines of the fight against the opioid epidemic.  While this legislation includes important solutions to help our communities, our urgent work to help save lives will continue.”

As part of his ongoing efforts to combat the opioid drug abuse epidemic in the region, Griffith and Congressman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) hosted a roundtable discussion with local health and law enforcement experts about how to better collaboratively fight the problem.

Griffith and his colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee passed a sweeping package of legislation to fight opioid abuse.  The full House of Representatives then cleared the opioid package.  This conference report to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act brings together House and Senate proposals to finalize a package to send to President Obama for his consideration.  Interestingly, one of the concepts included in the conference report was actually recommended by a participant in Griffith’s and Roe’s roundtable discussion.

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