Feenstra Delivers Remarks on the House Floor in Support of Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in strong support of legislation he introduced – the Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act ­– with U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA). U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) introduced it in the Senate where it passed unanimously.

This legislation would authorize a pilot program at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist rural communities with developing local programs that help reduce opioid abuse and overdoses while providing first responders with additional tools to save lives.

Feenstra’s floor remarks prepared for delivery are as follows:

Mr. Speaker.

I rise today in strong support of the Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act.

This bipartisan legislation, which I introduced with my colleague Connor Lamb, will help prevent opioid abuse and overdoses in rural America.

In 2021 alone, nearly 100,000 Americans died from a drug overdose.

That is unacceptable.

My legislation would help the most vulnerable in our rural communities recover from addiction and provide our first responders with the support they need to save lives.

There are too many barriers to rural healthcare, and we need to ensure that our federal programs efficiently reach communities in need.

I urge my colleagues to support this important program because too many families have lost a loved one to the opioid epidemic.

Thank you, and I yield back.

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