LAMB STATEMENT FOLLOWING PRESIDENT SIGNING CRITICAL OPIOIDS LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE

(WASHINGTON, DC) –  Representative Conor Lamb (PA-18) issued the following statement regarding the President signing the ‘SUPPORT for Patients and Community Act’ (H.R. 6), a sweeping, bipartisan opioids package that included dozens of proposals to address the devastating opioid crisis in America. H.R. 6 passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 22, 2018 by a vote of 396-14.

"The heroin and opioid crisis is devastating our communities in Western Pennsylvania. This bipartisan legislative package is a step in the right direction, but we have much more work to do,” said Lamb. “We need the same bipartisan commitment to invest in our nation's health care infrastructure. We need more treatment facilities with more beds and more health care providers. We need to provide people access to treatment options that work for them, which should include long-term access to medication, behavioral therapy and family support services. I hope that both parties will keep working together and prioritize these investments so that we can finally respond to this crisis with the urgency it demands."

The following are the bipartisan bills introduced or cosponsored by Congressman Lamb included in H.R. 6:

H.R. 5891 Improving the Federal Response to Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorder Act: Establishes an interagency task force to identify, evaluate and recommend ways in which the federal government can better coordinate responses to the opioid epidemic and carry out authorized duties.

H.R. 5777 Centralized Opioid Guidance (COG) Act: Establishes nationwide standards for prescribing opioids through Medicare according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. This bill aims to curb the overprescribing methods that have partially fueled this crisis, and helps doctors and patients make the best decision for pain-management.

H.R. 5775 Providing Reliable Options for Patients and Educational Resources Act of 2018: This bill requires important Medicare patient disclosure and engagement for prevention and treatment, including: providing information about the adverse effects of opioids; and, advising on proper disposal instructions for medication so it does not fall into the wrong hands. The bill also incentivizes hospitals to improve their engagement with patients about their pain-management options.

Congressman Lamb is a member of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force which is led by Representatives Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), Annie Kuster (D-NH), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Donald Norcross (D-NJ). The Bipartisan Heroin Task Force’s agenda includes commonsense, bipartisan legislation to address the opioid epidemic by supporting prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement efforts.

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